I think it’s because of the competition from local clubs that they don’t go to the UK.

In an interview that we’re going to publish soon, Liam Brady (head of Arsenal youth academy) talked about how Arsenal had to go out of the UK because of the intense competition with local rivals both in London and around the country.

If Arsenal have that problem, what do you think Milan will face?

Great interview Steve.

Anyone other than myself find it telling, or even damning, that they don’t have a camp in the UK? I know that one of the reasons will be the fact that a number of football camps exist throughout the country, but it also suggests to me that they don’t quite see the UK as a hotbed of untapped potential.

Perhaps AC are also trying to gain affiliation in countries with less influential domestic clubs, and as such the youth camps can be seen as an extension of Barca, Manchester United and Chelsea’s world branding attempts, fuelled by the desire to become the world’s “second team.”

It may be that Milan are taking over from Ajax as the club who have the youth system that others aspire to.