Real Madrid will face Norway's Rosenborg in the 31st edition of the Santiago Bernabeu trophy instead of Italian side Milan, the Spanish club said this week.

The tournament was to be played on August 25 against the Italian side but Real brought the date forward by 24 hours on the advice of UEFA, which was concerned that the friendly would clash with the Atletico Madrid-Panathinaikos Champions Lea-gue match that day.

Milan refused all other alternative dates proposed by Real and were replaced by Rosenborg as a result, Real said in a statement posted on their website.

The trophy commemorates former club president Santiago Bernabeu and is played each year at the stadium that bears his name with a different team invited each time.

Real had billed the match against Milan as a clash between "the two most-heralded teams of Europe" since the two sides have won a total of 16 European Cups.

Milan's withdrawal meant the San Siro outfit will not make a reunion with Kaka, their former forward who moved to Real this summer.

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