ATLETICO MADRID midfielder Thomas Partey has agreed to pay the wages of a Spanish fourth division side during the coronavirus pandemic.
Arsenal transfer target Partey, 26, is part owner of minnows Alcobendas, based in the outskirts of Madrid.
The move will help prevent the club, who play in Spanish Tercera Group 7, from seeking state funding with football shut down across the globe.
Some of Spanish football’s top teams such as La Liga champions Barcelona as well as Atletico have taken the ERTE scheme up, which is effectively the equivalent of furloughing in the UK.
But Alcobendas players and staff have continued to take a salary at the end of each month.
Partey bought Alcobendas alongside three partners, including his own agent Jose Jimenez in August last year.
Before the suspension of all football, Alcobendas were struggling, being only a point away from relegation.
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Atletico themselves need to remain focused if they are to stand a chance of making it to the Champions League next season and Partey is hopeful they can do that.
Diego Simeone’s side currently sit sixth in the La Liga table, but they need to continue to push for a top four finish for that to happen.
If they do not manage it, that would mean a financial blow for the club and with a £44million buy out clause, he may be sold in order to balance the books.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is after signing a new defensive midfielder in the summer transfer window.
But, with the spending restraints that Arsenal are currently under, they will need to think cleverly.
