World elite follows money trail to Asia

SINGAPORE - The world's soccer elite is jetting into Asia for a promotional blitz targeting a swathe of booming cities as teams vie for a bigger slice of the region's growing wealth.

Ten top European clubs, one national side and some of the sport's best-known players are joining the roadshow, which gets into full swing with Arsenal and Liverpool's arrival in Kuala Lumpur next week.

Star-studded Chelsea and Real Madrid follow later, while Manchester United players brandishing the newly-reclaimed English Premier League trophy have already rattled through five countries and Hong Kong on a whistle-stop tour.