BAYERN Munich opened a China office in Shanghai on Wednesday as it eyes commercial and media deals amid a growing fan base for Bundesliga soccer.

    “We are glad to open an office in Shanghai after the one in the U.S.,” Bayern’s Chief Executive Officer Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said. “We expect to enhance our communication with fans, clubs, associations and other organizations. Every China tour of Bayern Munich has been extremely successful. We could feel that the club has a great reputation in China.”

    The Bundesliga powerhouse is following its European rivals Manchester United and Barcelona into Asia. Both United and Barcelona have opened offices in China’s Hong Kong. Bayern’s office in Shanghai is located at the German Center at Zhangjiang High-Tech Park in Pudong. It will serve as the operational base on the club’s tour of Asia as well as for its academy operations.

    Bayern will play Arsenal in Shanghai on July 19 and AC Milan in Shenzhen on July 22 during the 2017 International Champions Cup China tournament.(SD-Agencies)