“It is with great pride that we offer these two matches to soccer enthusiasts and Impact fans,” declared Impact President Joey Saputo. “These international games will be historic, in great part because of the fine reputation and level of play that will be presented. AC Milan is part of the select group of great international clubs which include Barcelona, Manchester United and Real Madrid. With the success of the Champions Trophy as well as the Bordeaux and River Plate games in 2009, the Impact has won recognition on the international scene. There is no longer any doubt that Montreal is an outstanding market for international soccer events.”
“We are very excited to have the opportunity to visit Montreal and to play a friendly against the Impact,” said Umberto Gandini, Director of AC Milan. “There is a huge Italian community in Montreal and in Quebec, and we know there is a very active Milan AC supporters club, so we know we will feel at home in the Olympic Stadium. We are really grateful to Impact President Joey Saputo and his family for their tireless efforts in taking soccer to its highest level in Montreal. The presentation of this match proves this once again.”
AC Milan, which was founded in 1899, holds the world record with 18 international trophies: 7 Champions League titles, 5 UEFA Super Cups, 3 Intercontinental Cups, 2 UEFA Cup Winners' Cups and 1 Club World Cup. AC Milan has also been national champion 17 times. Some of the legends who wore the AC Milan uniform include Paolo Maldini, Roberto Baggio, Marco Van Basten, Andrei Shevchenko, Kaka, Franco Baresi, Marcel Desailly and Cafu.
Even though a number of players will join their respective national teams during the FIFA World Cup, various great players should take part in the match against the Impact, including Abbiati, Ambrosini, Dida, Flamini, Inzaghi, Mancini, Nesta, Pato, Ronaldinho and Seedorf. AC Milan is led by former Brazilian international player Leonardo.
This historic match will be played on a natural grass surface, specifically laid out for Olympic stadium. The surface will however be reusable by the Impact for a future occasion.
AC Milan is currently 3rd (18-5-10) in the 2009-2010 Serie A championship standings, while Fiorentina is ranked 8th (13-13-7).
Fiorentina is a club that was created in 1926. The team is based in Florence and notably won an Italian Super Cup, six Italian cups, as well as two national championships.
"I had the pleasure to meet Joey Saputo last year, during the team's training camp in Florence," declared Fiorentina managing director Sandro Mencucci. "I hope this match will signal the start of a solid relationship between both clubs in order to contribute to the development of soccer in North America, which is currently booming."
A reminder that in 2009, Montreal had set a new record in the French Football League with a 34,068 spectator crowd on July 25, 2009, at Olympic stadium.
Moreover, nearly 12,000 spectators had then attended the games against first division Argentinean club River Plate and French Ligue 1 club Bordeaux, but it was the Montreal team’s performances that had been most impressive. In a close match, the Impact lost 2-1, July 28 versus the Girondins, before playing to a 1-1 draw, August 4, versus River Plate.
Ticket sales for the Fiorentina match will start Friday, April 16 at 10 am, through Admission (514-790-1245 / admission.com), as well as at the ticketing office of Saputo Stadium. Ticket prices will range between $20 and $60 (plus taxes). Note that ticket holders of the first two categories ($40 and $60) will be able to attend the Viola’s training session the day before the game, at Saputo Stadium.
Tickets for the AC Milan game will go on sale Friday, April 23 at 10 am, through Admission (514-790-1245 / admission.com) or at the ticketing office of Olympic Stadium and Saputo Stadium. Ticket prices will range between $20 and $100 (plus taxes). First category ticket holders ($100) will get privileged access to attend the AC Milan training session, June 1, at Saputo Stadium.
A number of sections have been reserved in order to offer the season ticket holders priority seating.
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Source : Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info : 514-328-3668 (ext. 227)
