Kolkata gears up for Man United-Juve clash

English giants Manchester United and Serie A champions Juventus are set to make their maiden appearance on Indian soil at the Salt Lake Stadium on August 1, according to reports in the Indian press.

West Bengal sports minister Madan Mitra told Times of India on Monday that talks with representatives of both clubs are in the final stages and August 1 has been set as the tentative date.

Mitra said the state government had given its consent and don't foresee any hurdles before the big night when the city can expect to see Wayne Rooney and his Red Devils take on the Old Lady of Turin that has Gianluigi Buffon as one of its star players.

"This match will be held only after AIFF's (All India Football Federation) approval. There was a communication gap (with the AIFF). But, everything is fine now," West Bengal Sports Minister Madan Mitra said after talking to AIFF secretary Kushal Das over phone, the Press Trust of India reported.
 
Mitra said experts from Manchester United had already inspected the Salt Lake pitch and found the facilities adequate to host an international match. Officials of the state sports department are in constant touch with both clubs over phone and email.

Mitra further said he would discuss via video-conference with the world's most popular club, Manchester United's Global Sponsorship Director Casper Stylsvig and Juventus Commercial Director Francesco Calvo on either June 7 or 8 to chalk out the nitty-gritties for the match.

"We now have to get in touch with the (Union Sports Minister) Ajay Maken. We don't want to let go of this golden opportunity. I don't think we will get to see a match of this magnitude in the next 50 years," Mitra added.

Mitra was reacting to AIFF Vice President Subrata Dutta's reaction that for an international match to be conducted, it is required to take a permission at least two-and-a-half months in advance.

"We are not yet consulted in this matter. Without the AIFF and Sports Ministry's consent, one cannot organise such a match. It is required to take permission at least two-and-half months in advance," Dutta said.

The match is being organised by a Bangalore-based sports management firm with headquarters in UK that refused to be quoted.

"As we wanted to organise this in Kolkata, we approached the state government first. It's going to be a huge thing, so there will always be hurdles. But we will overcome them," a top official of the firm was quoted as saying.

He said they hope to ink the deal with both the teams after the video conference.

If the Rooney vs Buffon clash materialises it would be another rare treat for city's football afficionados who had witnessed the Lionel Messi-led Argentina take on Venezuela in a FIFA international friendly at the 120,000 capacity Yuba Bharati Krirangan on September 2 last year.

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