CHERRIES have confirmed that they will host a prestigious match against world-famous football giants Real Madrid at Dean Court later this month.

Chairman Eddie Mitchell revealed that household names including Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Özil and Kaka were all in line to face Cherries as part of a star-studded team.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Echo, Mitchell said a 70-strong delegation from the Spanish big guns would jet into Bournemouth Airport ahead of the July 21 fixture.

Real Madrid, who will be staying in a local hotel, have agreed to lock horns with Eddie Howe’s Championship new boys after a month of discussions with Cherries.

The nine-times European Cup winners will begin their pre-season schedule in a mouth-watering game which Cherries have dubbed a “celebratory exhibition match” to mark their promotion to the Championship and thank fans for their support.

Mitchell, who said Cherries were “honoured” to host the Spanish giants, told the Daily Echo: “It is great to be able to draw such a team to the area.

“It is really about the opportunity for local people and people from further afield to come and watch one of the best football teams in the world.

“It is an opportunity which was too good to pass up. It will showcase our club and that is priceless to us.

“It is a match of celebration to celebrate us getting into the Championship. We will want to win it, they will want to win it, but we will play good football.”

Explaining how Cherries secured the high-profile fixture, Mitchell said: “The clubs share a mutual friend who does work with Real Madrid. Tom (Mitchell, director of football) was chatting to him a few weeks ago and we had been looking for the opportunity to try to get a big club to the ground to celebrate our rise to the Championship. The mutual friend said that he could possibly get Real Madrid.

“Tom put it to me, I put it to the chief executive (Neill Blake) and we put it to my business partner (Maxim Demin). We decided that it would be great for the fans and us to pull off something like this.

“We took it further, things developed and we have worked very hard to secure the game. They have been across, met us all, looked at the stadium, pitch and accommodation, and they have been really impressed with the situation.”

Mitchell, who said he was confident Cherries would complete work on the new South Stand in time for the showpiece, added: “We have got the agreement signed. It is the first team coming over. I believe Zinedine Zidane is coming over as Carlo Ancelotti’s coach for the first time, so there will be some big names at the club.

“I think the only first-team regulars that won’t be coming are the boys that have appeared in the Confederations Cup.”

In a statement, Real Madrid’s institutional relations manager Emilio Butragueño 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 pre-season game on British soil and we eagerly anticipate the challenge from our English opponents.”

  • Cherries season ticket holders will receive a £5 discount off the full price, which is £60 for adults, £45 concessions, £30 for under-16s and £80 for executive seats.

Season ticket holders have from 9am on Monday until close of business on Wednesday, July 10 to claim their seats, before all remaining seats go on general sale at 9am on Thursday, July 11.

Tickets can be purchased via telephone (0844 576 1910) or in person from the AFC Bournemouth ticket office, Bournemouth International Centre and Bournemouth Pavilion. General sale tickets will also be available online from afcbdirect.co.uk.