Real Madrid’s Super Cup preparations have been dealt a blow after fifth-tier Norwegian club Malvik IL turned down the European champions’ request to use their training facilities – because of a clash with a children’s football training camp. The European champions had asked Norwegian fourth division side Malvik for use of their pitch but the club refused as their academy are using it.
Zinedine Zidane’s team, currently taking part in the pre-season International Champions’ Cup in the United States, are due to play fellow La Liga side Sevilla in the Super Cup final on 9 August.
The game takes place at Rosenborg’s Lerkendal stadium in Trondheim, and Real reportedly contacted Malvik to use their Viksletta stadium in nearby Vikhammer for pre-match training.
As reported by Madrid-based sports paper AS and Norwegian broadcaster NRK, Malvik president Frode Forbord declined the offer, prioritising the event for 270 schoolchildren over the chance to welcome Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo to their club.
“The training session coincides with our football school for kids in Malvik,” Forbord told NRK. “It would be great to have Real Madrid here, but we don’t want to send 270 kids home.”
Club officials confirmed that the training facilities could accommodate both parties – which would presumably significantly boost local interest in the football school –but it was Real Madrid who vetoed that idea, leading Malvik to stick to their guns.
“[Real Madrid] wanted a closed doors session so both things are not compatible,” Forbord added, concluding that “I hope the kids learn something at the school and one day play for Real Madrid.”
According to Norwegian broadcaster NRK, Real contacted Forbord to ask if they could use the ground for a training session ahead of the European Supercup against Sevilla on August 9, which will be held at Trondheim’s Lerkendal Stadion, 15 kilometres away from Malvik’s facilities.
