Xabi Alonso has backed a campaign to ensure his former club Eibar play in La Liga next season if they get promotion on the pitch.
The Basque club are in an unusual situation in that they need to raise 1.7 million euros in share capital to play in the top league or face being demoted to the third tier, despite the fact they are a financially sound team.
The money needs to be raised by August 6, and so far, the small-town club with a stadium capacity of just 5,000, has raised 30% of the total through a share sale. Shares cost 50 euros each and are available to buy online.
Eibar are currently second in the table, four points behind Las Palmas, with three games remaining.
At an event in Madrid, Real Madrid midfielder Alonso spoke out about the situation. The 32-year-old spent time on loan at Eibar in 2000/01.
He said: “It is contradictory that a club who has an enviable financial health and with zero debts is obliged to do this, when there are others who have much deeper problems. I hope we can put in a big push to keep them where they deserve to be.”
Fellow midfielder Asier Illarramendi also lent his support to the Basque club. He also spent time on loan there while coming through the ranks at Real Sociedad.
