Norwegian team strikes a huge blow for grassroots football with unbelievable Real Madrid snub

Real football people. Real people.

If you want your kids to play football, send them to Malvik IL (If you have the time or the money or happen to live in Norway). The Norwegian multi-sports club struck a hair-raising blow for purists everywhere when they rejected Real Madrid's advances to bring football's biggest names to train on their pitch. Why did they turn it down? Simple. Because they had a summer camp. It would've been the easiest thing in the world to call off the session for a day and host the world's biggest club. Get autographs, get pictures, get the prestige of Real Madrid training at Malvik IL. But the kids come first. Football comes first. It always should. https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/756749255902191617 Zinedine Zidane is preparing his team for the Super Cup against Sevilla but Malvik are preparing their children for the future and the Spanish giants were sent elsewhere to continue their pre-season preparations.

When the offer to host Madrid at Malvik was put to the deputy chairman, Frode Forbord, the dilemma was black and white.

"The training would be at the same time as our football school for kids..."

What more was there to talk about really?

Zidane and his men are in town for the European decider which is being played in Lerkendal in Norway on August 9 but, in a piece with NRK.no, Malvik explained their firm stance.

"Yes, it was tough imposing it, but it's not particularly fun to send home 270 kids either," Forbord said [translated].

"Let's hope they learn something at the football school, so we get some players at Real Madrid ourselves in the future."

This is how you take a stand. Priorities in check. Real football, real people.

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