Yahoo News Bruno Martins Indi to return to Stoke City in pre-season
Bruno Martins Indi will be back at Stoke City in pre-season as captain of AZ Alkmaar in what will be Steven Schumacher's final warm-up game.
Martins Indi and Co will visit the bet365 Stadium on Saturday, August 3 (3pm kick-off), a week before the Championship curtain raiser. They have just finished fourth in the Dutch top flight to secure European football for a fifth season in a row, having reached the Europa Conference League semi-finals in 2023.
The centre-back is 32 now and joined AZ initially on loan in 2020, making the deal permanent in 2021. The Netherlands international has since racked up more than 100 appearances for the club. Ticketing and hospitality information will be confirmed in due course.
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Martins Indi spent four seasons at Stoke, including an initial one on loan from Porto, before moving back to Holland.
When he left he sent a video message to supporters saying: “Hi Stoke City fans. Bruno here. I just want to thank you all for all the support during all the four years I was there. I wish you all the best.”
Then chief executive Tony Scholes said at the time: “Bruno is an excellent professional who has been a hugely popular figure in our dressing room and behind the scenes at Clayton Wood. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his contribution and wish him every success for the future. Bruno and his family will always be welcome at the bet365 Stadium.”
This is the only home match for Stoke this summer, with Schumacher currently preparing for his first pre-season as head coach. He welcomes players back to Clayton Wood on July 1 and will take the squad, plus the under-21s, on a week-long training camp in Cork from July 13.
There are other friendlies lined up away at Chester, Crewe, Stockport and Bolton Wanderers.
Key dates in pre-season
Wednesday, June 26: Fixture release date (9am)
Monday, July 1: Players return to Clayton Wood for pre-season training
Thursday, July 11: Chester FC vs Stoke City (7.45pm kick-off)
Saturday, July 13 to Friday, July 19: First team training camp in Cork
Wednesday, July 17: Cork City vs Stoke City (kick-off time TBC)
Tuesday, July 23: Crewe Alexandra v Stoke City (7.30pm kick-off)
Saturday, July 27: Stockport County vs Stoke City (2pm kick-off*)
Tuesday, July 30: Bolton Wanderers v Stoke City (7.30pm kick-off)
Saturday, August 3: Stoke City vs AZ Alkmaar (3pm kick-off)
Saturday, August 10: EFL Championship starts
