Iniesta saves Albacete

Andres Iniesta has rescued Albacete from relegation by stumping up €240,000 owed to the club’s players.

The cash-strapped Segunda Division B outfit would have been demoted to the fourth tier of Spanish football on administrative grounds had they not settled the debt by noon on Friday.

However, Iniesta, the largest shareholder in the club at which he began his career, came to their aid, paying the outstanding wage bill out of his own pocket.