Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey has agreed to pay the wages of the Spanish fourth division club he part owns, so they survive the economic consequences of the coronavirus without needing state help.

The 26-year-old Ghanaian bought Alcobendas Sport with three partners, including his agent Jose Jimenez, at the end of August of last year.

Players at the Madrid-based club feared for their futures when the coronavirus led to football’s shutdown. But Partey has stepped in to put the squad’s minds at rest.
While other clubs in Spain's top three tiers, including Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, have used the ERTE scheme – a Spanish equivalent of furloughing – Alcobendas Sport’s players and staff have continued to pick up their wages at the end of every month.

The club were in relegation trouble a point from safety when the season was stopped. The Spanish Football Federation has decided that the season in the third and fourth tiers will be decided by play-offs but with no relegation.

Having seen the club he owns achieve safety Partey now wants to see the club he plays for get back up from sixth place into the top four so as to secure Champions League football for next season.

Partey’s future could become increasing up in the air if Atletico don’t achieve that goal when football restarts or if the season cannot begin again and, as a consequence, they have to accept Europa League qualification.

Exclusion from the Champions League would be a huge financial blow and with a €50m (£44m) buy-out clause the midfielder would be one player the club might have to lose to balance their books.