Tuesday, April 10, 2018
Yesterday, Spanish capital football club Atlético Madrid, via their official website, announced Spanish striker Fernando Torres is set to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season. In the official statement, the club said they are to pay tribute to Torres in the final league game, which is scheduled for May 20 at Atlético’s home stadium, Wanda Metropolitano, against SD Eibar.
34-year-old Torres said, “This will be my last season at the club. As you can see I am playing very little”. “It’s very difficult to say goodbye for the second time. My aim was to hang up my boots here. I want to keep playing for two, three or five years”, Torres added.
Torres joined Atlético Madrid’s academy aged eleven and made his debut appearance for the Rojiblancos in 2001. Torres spent six seasons with Atlético, then transferred to English clubs Liverpool FC, then Chelsea FC. Torres returned to his boyhood club after spending a short spell with Italian Serie A side AC Milan.
Torres had scored 76 goals for Atlético between 2001 and 2007, before leaving for Liverpool. During his tenure at Liverpool, he netted 81 goals. This season, he has scored seven goals in 34 appearances for the club.
Atlético Madrid’s president, Enrique Cerezo, said: “Fernando is a legend in our club, we have always said that he would have the decision regarding his future because this is his house, and if he has decided to continue his professional career in another place starting next season, I can only thank him for everything he has given to us, which is a lot, and tell him that he will always have the doors to Atlético de Madrid open when he decides to finish his career as a football player”((es))Spanish language: Fernando es una leyenda de nuestro club, siempre hemos dicho que él tendría la decisión sobre su futuro porque ésta es su casa y si ha decidido continuar su carrera profesional a partir de la próxima temporada en otro lugar sólo puedo darle las gracias por todo lo que nos ha dado, que es muchísimo, y decirle que las puertas del Atlético de Madrid siempre estarán abiertas para él cuando decida poner punto y final a su carrera como futbolista.
Regarding Torres’ farewell, Cerezo said, “Fernando Torres deserves the best of farewells as a player of Atlético de Madrid, and that is why I am sure that the fans will join us on such a special day. We are already working to make it an unforgettable day for the Atlético family and especially for Fernando”((es))Spanish language: Fernando Torres merece la mejor de las despedidas como jugador del Atlético de Madrid y por eso estoy seguro de que la afición nos acompañará en un día especial. Ya estamos trabajando para que sea una jornada inolvidable para la familia atlética y en especial para Fernando.
