Statue of Iniesta to be built in Albacete

The city of Albacete is to honour Andres Iniesta by building a statue of the Spanish footballer.

This was announced by Manuel Serrano, the mayor of the city, while Eduardo Sanchez Butragueno of the Soliss Foundation has explained that there will be a panel of judges to decide which design should be used.

Members of the player's family, of the Spanish FA, of Albacete's football team and of Albacete's city council will form part of this panel to pick a design, with an announcement expected in February.

The sculptor will then have one year to make the plans a reality, with the statue set to go in the Punta del Parque park in the city.

"Iniesta represents the values of the Albacete society, such as humility, modesty and effort," Manuel Serrano said.

His father, Jose Antonio Iniesta, was full of emotion at the news.

"We only have words of thanks for this nice detail from the Soliss Foundation and from the Albacete city council," he said.

"He is an ambassador for this region and this is a nice human gesture.

"We are thrilled and can only say thanks."

Iniesta was born in Fuentealbilla, in the province of Albacete, before playing for the city's football club's youth teams up until his move to Barcelona.