Bayern to launch scouting network in India

German giants Bayern Munich have announced plans to launch a scouting network in India in hopes of discovering the region's next football star.

Bayern have had a longstanding relationship with Asian football, with Iranian legends Ali Daei and Ali Karimi playing for the side in the late-1990s and mid-2000s respectively.

This trend has continued with the season-long loan signing of Japanese winger Takashi Usami from Gamba Osaka, who could make a permanent move to the Allianz Arena should he sufficiently impress.

Bayern are now set to take their interest in Asian talent a step further by setting up a scouting network in India, the second-most populous country in the world with its 1.2 billion people.

Speaking at the launch of the FC Bayern Youth Cup, a mini-pitch tournament for fourteen to sixteen-year-olds to be staged in a number of countries, former Bayern midfielder Paul Breitner told he saw no reason why the next star of world football could not hail from Asia, or even India.

"Players from all over the world are in Europe nowadays, so why wouldn't we see Indians among their number in the next five or six years?" Breitner said, according to Bayern's official website.

Bayern acting board director Andreas Jung shared the same sentiments, and claimed the club would do all they can to unearth the next Indian footballing talent.

"India is growing incredibly fast, and that goes for its football too," said Jung.

"We're convinced India can become a very important market for this club.

"We can't guarantee uncovering a player capable of joining us as a professional, but it's well worth a try."

Jung also confirmed the first edition of the FC Bayern Youth Cup will be staged in New Delhi in October, which would symbolize the start of their scouting plans in the country.

"The very first task is to lay down foundations, and then we'll see how things develop."

600 youths will be selected to take part in October's tournament, where the best young footballers will be brought to Munich to take part in training and trial matches in May 2012.

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Barca wins Audi Cup

European Champions Barcelona lifted the pre-season Audi Cup with a 2-0 victory over hosts Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.

Thiago scored the opening goal four minutes before break and then wrapped up the victory with a second goal in the 74th minute.

Youngster Jonathan Soriano was stretchered off injured midway through the second half.

Brazilian side Internacional claimed third place with another penalty shoot-out victory over Italian giants AC Milan after the game finished 2-2.

The Rossoneri had twice led through Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alexandre Pato, but Leandro Damiao and substitute Andres D'Alessandro both grabbed equalisers.

Milan missed all four of their kicks from the spot to lose it 2-0.

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The 22-year-old looked destined to join the Eredivisie side this summer having passed a medical in Arnhem, while a reported fee of three million euros (£2.7m) had been agreed.

However, negotiations over a potential five-year contract collapsed, opening the door for Rovers to make their move.

Vitesse technical director Ted van Leeuwen admits the Dutch club now look likely to miss out on the youngster's signature, with Steve Kean's side close to completing a deal after reportedly tabling an offer.

He told Omroep Gelderland: "It looks like a deal will be made [with Blackburn], so it will be hard for us."

Petrovic, capped eighteen times for Serbia, has established himself as an important player in Belgrade since his 2008 arrival.

He would be Rovers' first major signing of the summer.

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Agent - "Porto snubbed Hulk bid"

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Several European giants are thought to be in the market for the 24-year-old this summer, with Manchester City, Chelsea and Italian clubAC Milan among the names to be linked with the hitman.

Hulk signed a five-year extension on his deal with treble-winning Porto in May, has a €100million (£89.5m) release clause in his contract.

The player has continually shown his intent to remain at the Estadio do Dragao and his agent, Teodoro Fonseca, claims Porto snubbed the €80m offer without leaving room for any negotiation.

"I would be lying if I said no proposals have emerged to sign Hulk," Fonseca told Portuguese newspaper Record.

"I think the highest bid was 80 million, but Porto did not even want to negotiate."

Fonseca refused to tell which club had tried to lure Hulk away from Porto.

He added: "I cannot reveal that. But it is not hard to see because there are only three or four clubs who are able to present those kind of numbers for a player."

The appointment of former Porto manager Andre Villas-Boas as manager at Chelse has fuelled speculation that Hulk is poised for a move to Stamford Bridge.

Big-spending Manchester City are also looking to strengthen their frontline due to the expected departure of captain Carlos Tevez.

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The two clubs have agreed a fee of £1.75million for the former Reading attacker, who will now meet Swans officials to discuss personal terms.

The 26-year-old has just 12 months remaining on his contract at the Riverside Stadium. He's scored 20 goals in almost 80 appearances for Boro.

Boro manager Tony Mowbray said there's a long way to go before the move is finalised.

He said: "Leroy was going to see what was on offer. It's not cut and dried, not at all. We have agreed a fee with Swansea. It doesn't mean much

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