Real Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente has expressed his delight at extending his contract with “the club of my life” until 2021.
Llorente broke into Madrid’s first-team squad for the 2017-18 campaign after he enjoyed a successful loan spell with Alaves last season, and the starlet insists he is ready to prolong his family’s legacy at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“I’m very happy to extend my contract,” the grandson of Blancos legend Paco Gento said at the presentation of his new deal.
“Madrid are the club of my life and it’s always been my dream [to play for them]. I’m looking forward to growing up at this club.
“Madrid family? There’s always been talk of humility and work. Without sacrifice, it’s very difficult to succeed.
“Madrid are the best club in the world and you have to give everything to succeed here. My point of reference is Xabi Alonso.
“I can’t be happier. My ovation yesterday was amazing. I had an incredible season, but I’m also happy to sign this renewal.
“I lived through that stage of leaving on loan and playing a lot. Now I have to live through another, very beautiful one.
“There’s a lot of competition here, but I’m aware of how young I am and what I still have to learn ".
“Teammates? They’re great players, they give me experience and this is where I can improve. This is where I’ll grow as a player.
“Patience? I’m full of it, I know how young I am and that the level is so high here. I’m very patient and eager to learn and grow.
“Zidane? He asks me to do what I did at Alaves, to defend, to attack… The competition is great, I have to work hard in every training session and take advantage of the opportunities I get.
“I have one piece of advice [to youngsters that want to play for Madrid]. All I can say is that you have to work hard. It’s very, very difficult to get here, and I don’t regret not working hard enough.
“In my case, I had to leave and it was a great step that I too in my career. It came in very handy.
“I knew it’d be very difficult to get minutes here, and I didn’t get an estimated average of how many minutes I was going to play.
“I just want to grow and train with these players. Dream this season? To win the maximum number of trophies possible.
“Madrid are the club of my life, the one that raised me from when I was a child. I’ve climbed [the ranks] here.
“They’re my life, it’s where my whole family has played and I’m happy about extending my contract.”
