Fernando Torres wants to retire “at home” in red and white of Atleti

Fernando Torres has reiterated his desire to remain at Atlético Madrid, where he feels “at home”. The 33-year-old signed up for another year with the club in the summer and turned down moves to Paco Jemez’ Cruz Azul and fellow Liga MX side Queretaro. It is another step in the right direction as one of the club’s most prolific and well-known stars stays in Madrid. A role in Atlético Madrid’s offices will surely beckon once he decides to hang up his boots, too.

“I am at home,” he said. “I came back to Atlético after eight years and this is where I feel genuinely happy. My desire is to play for Atlético and retire here while also winning trophies and helping the club to continue to be one of the best in Europe. That is the only option I have in my head at the moment.

“Simeone has reinforced the belief that has always been what this club is about,” he continued. “I came to Atlético when I was 10 years old and the club taught me about that. There are always periods in the history of a club when things are difficult and you can lose that identity a little, but with El Cholo we have recovered all of our values: sacrifice, humility, fighting spirit…and if we all pull in the same direction we can continue to compete with the big and powerful clubs.”

It remains to be seen how much of a role Torres plays over the course of the season, but with Atlético not allowed to register new players until January and with Luciano Vietto and other strikers failing to live up to the billing to date, the former Liverpool, Chelsea and AC Milan striker will find minutes in the opening six months of the campaign.