Real's Asian tour not about making money, says Valdano

Real Madrid's pre-season tour of Asia is more about meeting fans in the region than swelling the club's coffers, sporting director Jorge Valdano said on Thursday.

"We're not going for economic reasons," Valdano told reporters a few hours before the squad were due to fly out to China on the opening leg of a 17-day tour.

"We're going because as a club we have a duty to be universal in our approach and we want to give fans who are not here during the season a chance to see us."

"It's a chance to look after Real Madrid's image in Asia."

The tour schedule has been rejigged slightly, after the last of the four matches, scheduled for August 10 in Kuala Lumpur, was cancelled earlier this week.

Instead, Real will play a match in Bangkok on the same date, ensuring they will pocket eight million euros from the tour, which also takes in games in Beijing, Tokyo and Hong Kong.

Real recently signed a deal with a company called Asia Sports Development to manage the club's brand in Asia and Oceania.

That agreement will net the club a minimum of 22 million euros in three years, with the target figure set at 40 million euros.

Real normally stage their pre-season training camp much closer to home but Valdano said he was confident the long-distance voyage would not hinder the squad's preparations for the new campaign.

"Our medical staff have assured us that the only problem will be the discomfort of such a long journey," Valdano said.

"We want to get close to our Asian fans but we will need people to respect the times when we are working."