'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What the story?
Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters have announced that they will take part in an international club tournament involving Girona FC and Melbourne City FC. The tournament will be hosted by La Liga and is expected to take place in Kochi.
In case you didn't know...
Coincidentally, Girona FC and Melbourne City FC are both a part of the City Football Group. The Group is perhaps known best as the owners of Premier League Champions Manchester City. It remains to be seen whether the tournament's motives go deeper than being a friendly one.
Girona FC currently plies their trade in La Liga, where they finished tenth last season while Melbourne City FC plays in the A-League.
Heart of the matter
Kerala Blasters announced, via their official Twitter account, that they are going to take part in a pre-season tournament involving Girona FC and Melbourne City FC. The tournament will be hosted by La Liga with the ambassador and former player - Fernando Morientes - kicking things off.
"It gives me immense pleasure to be a part of such a historic moment. Pre-season tournaments are the best preparatory ground for a club to prepare for the season ahead. I remember how playing pre-season friendlies helped me identify the areas that I needed to work upon and be better prepared. I would like to wish all the very best to all participants and am looking forward to a closely-contested tournament," Morientes said at an event.
Both Melbourne City FC and Girona FC also tweeted their delight after joining Kerala Blasters for this international tournament.
Girona FC also stated the fact that they will be the first Spanish first division side to ever play a game of football in India.
What's next?
Kerala Blasters have left no squares unticked in their preparations for the 2018/19 Indian Super League season. So far, they have acquired some key players in the transfer market with a view towards building a strong team.
They will now be taking part in a tournament involving good footballing sides in order to ready themselves for the upcoming season. The tournament will take place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi from July 24 to July 29.
