CHIEF executive Paul Barber has hailed Atletico Madrid’s visit to the Amex as another demonstration of how far Albion have come.

The Seagulls will prepare for their debut season in the Premier League with a showpiece friendly against the Spanish giants on Sunday August 6 (4pm).

The only home warm-up before Albion launch their Premier League campaign under Chris Hughton the following weekend has already attracted big interest – before ticket details have even been announced.

Barber told The Argus: “Moving into the Premier League, we wanted it to ideally be one of the top four or five teams in Europe. Ideally we wanted a club renowned for its fast-paced fluent football, the kind of club we would all aspire to.

“Very few clubs fit that criteria and Atletico were very high on that list.

“We are delighted for two reasons, one because it’s a club we all admire and one which Chris wants to pit his wits against, and secondly it’s a really visible demonstration of how far we have come – if anyone was ever in any doubt.”

Albion will lay out the red carpet treatment for Diego Simeone’s ten-times La Liga title winners and Champions League runners-up twice in the last four years.

French ace Antoine Griezmann wants to leave Atletico in search of silverware but other star names such as midfielder Koke, former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres and long-serving Uruguayan defender Diego Godin could be preparing for the match at the Seagulls’ training complex in Lancing, days after taking part in the Audi Cup in Germany against Bayern Munich and Liverpool.

Barber said: “They have been great to deal with, very professional, very friendly. They are very excited also about coming to play us.

“We’ve given them 24-hour access to the training ground if they want it, which we do for all international clubs when they play us.

“We want to show off the training ground and it’s always a really good way of building relationships.

“A lot of clubs make the mistake of having these friendlies, the team flies in and flies out, and that’s it.”

Demand for tickets will outstrip visits to the Amex in previous seasons by Atletico’s La Liga rivals Sevilla and Villarreal and Italian Serie A outfit Lazio.

Barber added: “All of the terms are agreed. The only thing outstanding is the actual contract, which is a formality.

“Once we have got the contract agreed we will put the tickets on sale almost immediately. We’ve already had lots and lots of enquiries, so I think demand for tickets is going to be pretty high.”