Fernando Torres has confirmed for the first time that he is in talks with Atletico Madrid about staying at the club beyond this season.
Torres’ 18-month loan deal from Milan expires at the end of the campaign, but the striker has done all he can to earn a permanent contract with his boyhood club after a run of nine goals in his last 15 appearances, including La Liga winners against Getafe and Athletic Bilbao, plus a vital away strike at Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals.
“I don’t like to talk [about a Spain recall for Euro 2016] because everything has been misinterpreted, and it seems worse when you try to clarify things,” he told EFE.
“The reality is that I’ve never had a problem with the national team.
“They’ve always been a source of pride for me and I’ve never left the team.
“I’ve gone two years without being in the team and I know I haven’t been in [Vicente del Bosque’s] squads.
“I don’t feel part of the team because I’ve gone two years without being involved.
“It would be a surprise [if I was called up], but I’m still available for selection.
“I’ve played 110 games [for Spain], and it’s difficult to have more commitment than I do.
“I hope to stay [at Atleti] for many years and hopefully I can stay forever at where I want to be, which is Atletico.
“There are talks [over a new deal] and good will, which is important to me, but I still think it’s secondary.
“We have the game of our lives [the Champions League final] before then, but it’s true that we’ve begun talks and I like that.”
