Torres and Atlético: the end of a career in red-and-white in quotes
The Atlético Madrid striker has announced he will leave the club at the end of the season, with the doors open for a return at institutional level.
Fernando Torres has confirmed that the current campaign will be his last as an Atlético Madrid player, with his next club yet to be revealed. However, Atlético have opened the doors for El Niño to return to the club in some capacity, whether coaching or at an institutional level. Here we take a look at the number nine’s career as a Rojiblanco in nine phrases.
“If I have to pick the favourite moment of my career, it would be my second presentation as an Atlético Madrid player.”
“The fans have always shown me so much love and affection that I felt I should let them know. I have never asked them for anything, but now I ask them to accompany me on this final journey, to get behind me. We have many more home games and together we can make this more bearable. Every beautiful story has a beginning and an end. The beginning came on the day of my debut and there is a little over a month to go until the end and let’s enjoy it and focus on the important things, and that is that the fans are behind the team.”
“My idea was always to hang up my boots here, but things don’t always work out the way you want them to. Wanting to retire at Atlético isn’t the same as staying here for another two years without playing, or thinking that whatever I do I won’t get the opportunity to play.”
"My idea was always to hang up my boots here, but things don’t always work out"
“My relationship with Simeone is normal, professional; we were once teammates and now he is my coach. I will never play any part in a rift between Simeone and Torres. We’ve always got on well because we’ve always been pulling in the same direction. We are a drop in the ocean compared to others and any kind of controversy people want to try and create isn’t any good for either of us.”
“I think I can still play, but the reality is that it’s not the case. This season I have been playing a lot less than last year and it’s a path that is only leading in one direction and I don’t want to go in that direction with Atlético. The difference is that this year I’ve seen that when I’ve had the opportunity to play I’ve been scoring goals, but that has not led to more chances to play.”
“This second era at Atlético has been a gift. I’ve experienced some magical moments and I’m sure I’ll have some more, hopefully with a title. Playing in this shirt, even if it is for 15 minutes, is worth it and that will remain the case until the end. I have the opportunity to play where I most wanted to play and that comes above everything else.”
"Playing in this shirt, even if it is for 15 minutes, is worth it"
“I am too closely related with Atlético not to return to the club sooner or later. But I think it will be a few years yet before that happens.
“I haven’t got a new team or a new league in mind yet. Until now there wasn’t a scenario where I was thinking about it and so I didn’t listen to any offers. Now I will have to consider what to do next, everything changes and I will have to take stock of many things.”
“That the club gave me the opportunity to continue as long as I wanted to was a very beautiful gesture. There have been times when I had different feelings, but today is not the day for reproaches…”
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