Atletico to play pre-season game with Lions

By FOX SPORTS staff

Diego Simeone's side currently occupy second spot in the La Liga table, nine points behind league leaders Barcelona and seven points ahead of city rivals Real Madrid.

While the Atletico Madrid players remain focused on the current campaign, club officials have begun preparations for the next by confirming the team's participation in a pre-season friendly against Singapore in August.

Club owner Miguel Angel Gil Marin was in the South East Asian nation earlier this week at the invitation of entrepreneur Peter Lim, who founded the Singapore Olympic Foundation (SOF) - Peter Lim Scholarship. The Spaniard told the club's official website that he was moved by Lim's passion to improve the sporting outlook of Singapore.

"We are going to Singapore for a reason, to support the work done by the Peter Lim Foundation that helps youngsters achieve their sporting dreams," Marin shared.

"I love the idea and they have invited us to play a game and I can't say no."

Europa League winners Atletico are not unfamiliar with Singapore talent, having taken on 16-year old Adam Swandi for a training stint last year.

Marin told TODAY that the club were open to organizing another spell for Swandi and expressed interest in signing the promising player for the Atletico youth team.

"If he wants to come back again to work with us, it will be a pleasure for him and for us. We can organise a period of a year working with players of the same age," he stated.

"Yes, of course [Atletico will consider signing him]. I think he has enough quality to work with us and improve."

Media sources in Spain report that Atletico Madrid also plan play Thai side Muangthong United and travel to China as part of their pre-season preparations.