FRANCO BARESI IN CHINA TO STRENGTHEN THE BOND WITH LOCAL FANS

To mark the publishing of his biography "Libero di Sognare" ("Free to Dream") in China, the Honorary Vice-President of AC Milan, Franco Baresi, will take part in a mini-tour of China, which will see him visit the cities of Shanghai and Beijing from 11 to 14 November.

The Honorary Vice-President will take part in a number of fan-centric initiatives during his trip, through which he will have the chance to come into direct contact with the Rossoneri fanbase, partners and local media outlets. 

• Saturday, 11 November - Franco Baresi will visit the offices of Rossoneri partner, PUMA and the PUMA Store in Huaihai, in Shanghai, where he will take part in a Meet&Greet with fans and employees of one of the longest-standing partners of the Club. That evening, the Honorary Vice-President of the Rossoneri will take part in a Watch Party at the Reeb 1987 Bar, where he will watch the Rossoneri take on Lecce in Serie A with some local Fan Clubs;
• Sunday, 12 November - live stream on Douyin's Official AC Milan Channel, where Franco Baresi will be able to interact live with connected fans;
• Monday, 13 November - Franco Baresi will meet a group of students at the prestigious Tsinghua University, creating a unique opportunity for dialogue and discussion, starting with football, but also expanding on themes addressed in the book "Free to Dream", like the power of imagination, determination and courage;
• Tuesday, 14 November - official presentation of the Chinese edition of his biography "Free to Dream" at the Italian Embassy in Beijing.

These initiatives aim to further strengthen the already strong bond between the Rossoneri and its local fans, more than 146 million according to Nielsen. In addition, according to a study from the international market research and analysis company, YouGov, AC Milan is the best-regarded Italian football brand in the country.  A devotion that also extends to the digital world, with record-breaking interactions with fans reaching over 5 million followers on Chinese platforms last season.

Honorary Vice-President Franco Baresi commented: "The passion in China for AC Milan is really noticeable. It is an honour for me to take part in this incredible trip, promote my book and further strengthen the bond between the Rossoneri and our devoted Chinese fanbase. Together, we will celebrate a beautiful bond that transcends borders and cultures."

With several local Fan Clubs, nine social media platforms and an international office in Shanghai, AC Milan continues to cultivate its bond with China with the aim of establishing and expanding the AC Milan brand more and more on a global level.