Ronaldinho's club Atletico Mineiro have reportedly agreed to tour China for a series of friendlies during this year's World Cup.
The Belo Horizonte-based side will play three matches against Chinese Super League clubs form June 19 to 29, Xinhua quoted Brazilian football news portal Sambafoot as saying.
The deal was brokered by Chinese sports network Hupu and is expected to be confirmed by Atletico in the coming days.
Hupu has previously been responsible for bringing former England internationals Paul Scholes and Michael Owen to China for futsal exhibition matches.
Atletico are understood to see the tour as an ideal marketing exercise as they attempt to capture a slice of the lucrative Asian market.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app