On Sunday at 22.30 CEST the FC Bayern party boarded a Lufthansa charter to Shanghai. A total of 178 people, including players like Thomas Müller, Mats Hummels and James as well as coaching staff, club officials, media representatives, partners and fans set off. Needless to say, Bayern's leadership, including chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and president Uli Hoeneß, were part of it.
"The tour's motto is 'Visiting friends.' We'll now visit our friends in China and Singapore," said Rummenigge prior to departure. "We'll try to have lots of fun," Müller announced: "We'll see a number of things we won't get to see in Munich. We want to take along everything we can."
"The trip will cover both footballing and commercial interests," Rummenigge explained: "We want to present ourselves to our fans and partners there. But it's also valuable in terms of sport. We'll take on renowned opponents in four friendlies."
Besides the training sessions, the German record champions cross swords with Arsenal on 19 July, AC Milan on 22 July, Chelsea on 25 July and Inter Milan on 27 July. "Everything's coordinated with Carlo Ancelotti. The players can really get to know each other. It's a good opportunity to settle in, especially for the new players," according to Rummenigge.
Klose accompanies FCB squad
Manuel Neuer (foot fracture), Jérôme Boateng (thigh injury) and Arjen Robben (calf injury) have stayed in Munich. The trio will make use of the ideal conditions at the Säbener Strasse facility to speed up their recovery. Confed Cup finalists Joshua Kimmich, Sebastian Rudy, Niklas Süle and Arturo Vidal will join their team-mates after the Audi Summer Tour. Some former Bayern stars like Miroslav Klose will accompany Ancelotti's men to Asia.
Needless to say, fcbayern.com, FC Bayern TV, FC Bayern TV LIVE and FCB's social media channels will keep you up to date!
The FC Bayern squad for Audi Summer Tour 2017:
Alaba, Bernat, Coman, Dorsch, Friedl, Früchtl, Götze, Hoffmann, Hummels, James, Lewandowski, Martínez, Müller, Pantovic, Rafinha, Ribéry, Sanches, Starke, Thiago, Tolisso, Ulreich, Wintzheimer
