Atlético farewell for Santi

Santi Denia has left Club Atlético de Madrid after nine years to join Albacete Balompié on loan.

Double winner
The 30-year-old central defender has agreed a return to the club where he started his career and he will remain there for 18 months until June 2006. Denia was the only surviving member of Atlético's 1995/96 Spanish double-winning team still at the Vicente Calderón stadium.

'One of the best'
Club chairman Enrique Cerezo paid tribute to the player at a press conference today, saying: "Santi is a magnificent professional and one of the best to have passed through this club. He knows that the door will always be open for him here at Atlético."