South Coast Visit For Real Madrid
2 July 2013, 19:18 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50
AFC Bournemouth will host Spanish giants Real Madrid in a celebratory exhibition match on Sunday 21st July.
Kicking off at 7.45pm, the club say Real Madrid superstars Mesut Özil, Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo will arrive at the Goldsands Stadium for a 'one of a kind' game against the Cherries.
The nine time European Cup winners will kick off their pre-season schedule on the south coast of England ahead of matches against Olympique Lyonnais, Paris Saint-Germain and its presence at the 2013 International Champions Cup.
With the Cherries already celebrating a monumental period in the club's history, chairman Eddie Mitchell said:
"Real Madrid are at the pinnacle of global sport and to host them will be an honour for the squad, management and supporters of AFC Bournemouth.
"We see the fixture as a well earned gift to our fans for their unwavering dedication to AFC Bournemouth, and also an opportunity for us to put the town of Bournemouth on the map.
"We are honoured to have been handpicked by Real Madrid to be their hosts in this landmark moment for the Football League, and we will do everything to ensure the game goes down in history."
Carlo Ancelloti's men will be showcasing their international pedigree against the newly promoted Cherries, who are set to embark on their first season in the second tier of English football for 23 years.
Emilio Butragueño, institutional relations manager at Real Madrid, said, "The celebratory exhibition match will be a fantastic occasion for both clubs, and we are looking forward to our trip to Bournemouth and the Goldsands Stadium.
"We are delighted that Real Madrid will play their first preseason game on British soil, and we eagerly anticipate the challenge from our English opponents."
Season ticket holders will have the chance to claim their seat from 9am on Monday 8th July over the phone or in person from the AFC Bournemouth ticket office, Bournemouth International Centre and Bournemouth Pavilion.
Season ticket holders will have until the end of Wednesday 10th July to claim their seats before all remaining seats go on general sale on Thursday 11th July at 9am.
