Atletico Mineiro are sending their kids to face Sevco next week in the Florida Cup.
While Sevco bigged up the glamour international friendliest Atletico have played things down with their first team staying at home in Brazil to prepare for the start of the new season.
With no sponsor and little in the way if television coverage Atletico won’t be fined by the organisers who are happy to put together a few games for club’s training in the sunshine state.
Explaining their decision Atletico Director of Football Alexandre Gallo told The Sun: “We have concluded that preparation for the new season at a training camp is more important than playing in a tournament.
“That way you minimise the risk of injuries and you raise team morale. We will send our B team to America, who will be managed by Under 23s coach Caio Zanardi.”
Sevco will have former Manchester United starlet Sean Goss in their squad alongside Micky O’Halloran who has completed his loan deal with St Johnstone.
Manchester City starlet Aaron Nemane has returned to his parent club while Bruno Alves misses the trip to Florida as he recovers from a sore leg in Portugal.
Graeme Murty will decide over the next two days whether former Liverpool starlet Jordan Rossiter will make the trip or remain at Murray Park for state of the art treatment on his knee.
In October Benfica reserves pulled out of a glamour friendly against Sevco in Canada.
