Sao Paulo announce China youth program

Brazilian club Sao Paulo will launch a youth development program with Chinese side Shandong Luneng as part of a deal to promote their image in Asia.

The four-year agreement includes an exchange initiative allowing the Chinese Super League club's best youngsters to train in Brazil, Sao Paulo said on their official website Thursday, reports Xinhua.

Sao Paulo will in turn explore commercial opportunities in China and gain access to a new player market.

The program, to be led by former Sao Paulo first-team manager Sergio Baresi, will begin early next year.

Baresi will be based at Shandong Luneng's headquarters in the eastern Chinese city of Jinan alongside Sinclair Dantas de Freitas Garcia (physical trainer), Luis Henrique Orlando (goalkeeping coach) and Bruno Happy (physiotherapist).

The group will take charge of Shandong Luneng's under-20 side and coordinate the club's entire youth program.

"It's a promising project," Baresi said. "I'm going there now for 40 days and we are going to set up a structure with the Sao Paulo know-how."

A selection of Chinese youngsters will also be chosen to train with Sao Paulo's youth teams at the Brazilian club's Cotia football academy.