Overview
- AC Milan and Inter Milan have assembled full squads in Perth ahead of the Derby della Madonnina at Optus Stadium on August 5, with Inter scheduled to play Juventus on August 8 and Juventus to face Palermo the following week.
- Luka Modrić arrived in Perth to a large, sometimes chaotic airport reception and has joined Milan’s preparations after reportedly extending his stay with the club for another season.
- Inter coach Cristian Chivu has downplayed the fixture’s competitive value, saying the match is a warm‑up focused on fitness and warning that players returning from post‑World Cup breaks may not be ready for the league opener.
- Both clubs are staging fan activations in the city, including an Inter fan hub at Brookfield Place that displayed trophies and hosted player meet‑and‑greet events to boost local engagement.
- The tour underscores a growing trend of Serie A clubs exporting marquee matches to grow revenue and global support, a move that raises questions about travel, player workload and preseason planning for the coming season.