Exclusive: Ronaldo and Real will have to wait! Celtic reject US pre-season event due to Champions League qualifiers



Celtic have been forced to reject an invitation to face Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Juventus in a lucrative pre-season tournament due to a Champions League dates clash.

The Parkhead club need a single point against Inverness this weekend to tie up a second successive SPL title.

And organisers of the new eight-team Guinness International Champions Cup wanted Neil Lennon’s side to accept a place in a new Stateside knock-out tournament featuring some of the world’s top clubs.

No summer repeat: Celtic faced Juventus in the Champions League this campaign but have turned down the chance to face them in pre-season

Refused: Celtic turned down the chance of potentially coming up against Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer

No US meeting: Inter Milan's Fredy Guarin will not be playing against Celtic in the summer

Brainchild of Miami Dolphins’ billionaire owner Stephen Ross, the lucrative tournament has been snapped up by Fox Sports and features semi-finals in New York and Los Angeles at the end of July before a final in the Sun Life Stadium, Miami on August 6.

Real Madrid, Inter and this season’s Champions League conquerors Juve have already joined Los Angeles Galaxy in accepting an invitation. And English Premiership clubs and Galatasaray are also expected to be confirmed as competitors on May 7.

Despite negotiating an SPL opt-out to play a glamour friendly on August 10, however, Celtic have been hampered by Champions League qualifying ties on July 17 and July 24 followed by the first weekend of the league season on Saturday August 3.

Domestic matters: Celtic can claim their second successive SPL title with a point against Inverness at the weekend

Hoops mastermind: Celtic manager Neil Lennon

Benjamin Spencer, spokesman for the organisers Relevent Sports told Sportsmail: “Relevent Sports has a great relationship with Celtic and we did have discussions with the club regarding the International Champions Cup.

'We would love for them to be involved but there were significant scheduling challenges due to Celtic's likely participation in Champions League Qualifying.

'We look forward to announcing the four remaining clubs on May 7.'

Celtic are expected to face Liverpool in Dublin on August 10, with a pre-season trip to Germany in the first half of July penciled in.



