The New York Red Bulls Under-17 team will take on one of the best youth clubs in the world when Italian Serie A powerhouse Inter Milan travels to New Jersey on Saturday, Aug. 23.
The match, which will be held at NJIT in Newark, NJ, is one of two exhibition games for Inter's youth squad, which captured the 2007-08 Italian Serie A Under-17 championship. The Allievi Nazionali (which means "Junior Nationals") will play the Red Bulls on Saturday, Aug. 23 at 8:00 p.m. Admission to the event is free.
"Although we are still in the process of selecting a squad for next year's US Development Team, we feel the opportunity to test our players against the Italian U17 champions, Inter Milan, will be a valuable experience for our players and coaching staff," stated Bob Montgomery, Red Bull New York Director of Youth Programs.
"Inter Village", the main event of Inter Milan's trip to the United States, will take place August 23-24 in New York City and will give young players an opportunity to learn directly from youth coaches from the Italian champions. The event will be held at Juniper Valley Park in Middle Village, NY and features games, clinics, and free Inter Milan merchandise.
The event details are being coordinated by Inter Club Facchetti of New Jersey, a newly-formed group of fans of Inter Milan in the Garden State. Aldo Tripicchio founded it this past January and is currently the club's president. They had their inaugural dinner in February, and have high hopes for the success for the group, as well as helping Inter continue to create a strong presence in the United States.
Inter Milan's Allievi Nazionali not only boasts last season's Serie A championship, but they have one of their own making a name for himself at the next level. Mario Balotelli ("Super Mario") is one of the top young prospects in the world, and at the age of 17, made his debut with Inter's senior side last season. He scored two goals in league play and added four more in the Coppa Italia, and is expected to make earn his first cap with the Italian national team after he turns 18 years old. v Inter Milan (officially named "F.C. Internazionale Milano") is one of the premier clubs in world soccer, having won 16 Serie A championships, two European Cups (1963-64, 1964-65) and three UEFA Cup titles (1990-91, 1993-94, 1997-98). Millions of their fans around the world have witnessed the club making history over the last three years as they have captured three consecutive league championships for the first time in their 101-year history. In the upcoming 2008-09 season, Inter fans will continue to have high standards with former Chelsea F.C. (English Premier League) manager Jose Mourinho in charge of the club.
