Bayern Munich have well and truly gone global. 

The club’s official YouTube channel posted a video of the team arriving in China, and a huge crowd was on hand to welcome them. 

Bayern will play three games in the country against Valencia (in Beijing),  Inter Milan (in Shanghai) and Guangzhou Evergrande (in Guangzhou).

[YouTube: FC Bayern Munchen]

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Arjen Robben will miss Bayern Munich’s pre-season tour of China with a muscular problem.

The prolific Dutch winger was absent for much of the 2014-15 campaign with injuries and will be hoping to post a successful club season ahead of the Netherlands’ possible participation in Euro 2016.

Continue for updates.

Robben Ruled out of China Trip

Thursday, July 16

Bayern’s official Twitter account confirmed Robben is one of five first-team players who will miss the club’s initial preparations for the Bundesliga season, while Sky Sport News HD‘s feed revealed the reason behind his absence.

Goal’s Stefan Coerts reports Robben will remain at home as a “precautionary measure” and that his muscular injury can be considered “minor.”

As such, Robben will not participate in matches against Valencia, Inter Milan and Guangzhou Evergrande during the whistle-stop journey through China.

He made just 20 Bundesliga starts last season, recorded by WhoScored.com. Robben’s season ended in April as a result of a calf injury, having previously been sidelined in March with an abdominal tear.

Despite this, he racked up 17 goals and seven assists along Bayern’s route to the German title, per WhoScored. Robben remains an explosive player and someone who can turn the game on its head with a moment of skill.

Bayern boss Pep Guardiola has plenty of options to choose from while he recovers, even considering Franck Ribery’s spell on the sidelines. Guardiola will likely utilise the likes of Thomas Muller, Mario Gotze and new signing Douglas Costa on the flanks in China.

Robben’s main objective must be to get himself fit for the 2015-16 campaign. He is destined to play a key role in any potential Bayern success if he can maintain the sharpness that regularly sees him rip through opposition defences.

Unfortunately for the Dutchman, this is proving an increasingly difficult challenge as he heads toward the latter stages of his career.

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Inter Milan warmed up for the new season with an entertaining 4-2 win over fellow Serie A side Carpi, with Hernanes’ backflip celebration following a sumptuous free-kick providing the highlight of the game.

Rodrigo Palacio gave Inter an early lead before Kevin Lasagna equalised for the hosts. Mauro Icardi restored the Milan side’s lead before Hernanes whipped a dipping free-kick over the wall and beyond the ‘keeper in the 33rd minute.

Goal celebrations are normally somewhat reserved in pre-season, but that didn’t stop the Brazilian midfielder launching into his impressive trademark backflip to mark the strike.

[h/t LiveScore, Clippyville] 

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Leicester City have appointed former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri as their new manager following the recent sacking of Nigel Pearson. 

The Italian returns to Premier League management over a decade after he was relieved of his duties at Stamford Bridge in the early years of the Roman Abramovich era.

The Foxes announced their appointment of the 63-year-old Ranieri on Monday:

The former Juventus and Inter Milan boss has signed a three year deal with the east Midlands outfit, per the club’s website.

Ranieri’s most recent post was as manager of the Greece national team. His brief tenure was an abject failure, and he was sacked following a 1-0 home defeat to the Faroe Islands in November 2014, per ESPN FC:

However, his record in the Premier League is very strong, and Leicester will be hoping he can bring that experience with him to the King Power Stadium, per Opta:

Leicester pulled off a miraculous escape from Premier League relegation in the 2014-15 term as Pearson led them to seven wins in their last nine matches.

However, the 51-year-old was sacked at the end of June and the reins have now been handed to Ranieri for the upcoming season.  

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Liverpool remain in the hunt for another striker, and a shock move for Manchester United‘s Javier Hernandez could be on the cards, per the latest rumours.

According to Suhayl Al-Sammari of Forza Italian Football, Portuguese newspaper A Bola is reporting that Liverpool are among the leaders in the race to sign Hernandez but are also facing competition from Juventus and Inter Milan.

Chicharito spent last season on loan at Real Madrid after manager Louis van Gaal deemed him surplus to requirements and looks likely to move this summer in search of regular football.

When benched for Real’s Champions League semi-final clash with Juventus, Hernandez admitted he was not content to be used only as a super-sub. Per Joe Short of the Express, he told Spanish broadcaster TVE, “Look, a benched player is not a happy player.”

Largely used as a sub and playing just a few minutes at a time, the 27-year-old scored eight goals and made four assists in all competitions.

As WhoScored.com notes, Hernandez maintained an excellent conversion rate in La Liga:

Real Madrid TV’s Phil Kitromilides was full of praise for the Mexican in one of his rare starts:

The striker is a potent threat in the penalty area and comfortable joining in with buildup play.

Though Liverpool are more in need of a striker who can lead their line each week rather than just making an impact from the bench, Hernandez has shown on the international stage what he can do with a significant run of starts, scoring 40 goals for Mexico in 74 appearances.

Whether Reds fans would welcome a United player remains to be seen, but Hernandez could add to their strike power up front.

Reds Consider Gary Medel

According to Chilean outlet La Tercera (via Jon Harvey of Metro), Liverpool are “weighing up a move” for Gary Medel.

The Inter Milan midfielder started all six matches in Chile’s successful Copa America campaign, and a potential move to Liverpool would likely tempt him.

With Geoffrey Kondogbia’s arrival at Inter, Medel could find himself lower in the pecking order, should he remain in Italy.

This should not dissuade Liverpool from signing him, however.

As WhoScored.com illustrates, Medel is incredibly reliable in possession:

According to Squawka, Medel was Inter’s second-highest performer in Serie A last season, maintaining a passing accuracy of 92 per cent and creating 28 chances for his team-mates.

He also won 59 tackles and 53 per cent of his headed duels and can competently fill in at centre-back as well as in midfield.

Though Medel is far from a replacement for Steven Gerrard, the Chilean Pitbull could make a strong option in midfield alongside James Milner and Jordan Henderson.

The 27-year-old has international pedigree, having made 80 appearances for Chile, as well as experience in La Liga and, more importantly, the Premier League from his time with Sevilla and Cardiff City.

While fans would likely prefer for the Reds to sign his younger team-mate Mateo Kovacic, Medel could represent yet another strong piece of business for Liverpool if acquired for the right price.

His experience, metronomic passing and bite make him well-suited to Premier League football, and Liverpool would benefit from his presence in midfield. 

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