Erick Torres says he intends to fulfill his Dynamo contract

Houston Dynamo forward Erick Torres (9) and Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra (21) collide when Torres is trying to score a goal during the first half of the first-round playoff MLS match at BBVA Compass Stadium Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Houston. ( Yi-Chin Lee / Houston Chronicle ) less Houston Dynamo forward Erick Torres (9) and Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra (21) collide when Torres is trying to score a goal during the first half of the first-round playoff MLS match at BBVA ... more Photo: Yi-Chin Lee, Houston Chronicle Photo: Yi-Chin Lee, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Erick Torres says he intends to fulfill his Dynamo contract 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

An eventual return to Mexico likely awaits Dynamo forward Erick Torres.

After a second consecutive offseason in which a move to his homeland did not materialize, however, Torres said he intends to finish his contract with the Dynamo.

The Dynamo tried to sell Torres to Liga MX club Veracruz earlier this month, but the deal fell through for unspecified reasons. The Dynamo loaned Torres to Cruz Azul at the end of the 2016 season, but after Torres suffered an injury Cruz Azul declined to purchase his rights.

“I am happy because there were Mexican teams interested in me and they are still observing me,” Torres said Tuesday through a translator following the Dynamo’s first preseason training session. “In the end, it didn’t work for me to go to Mexico due to different reasons. I am happy to be here, and my intentions have always been to fulfill my contract with Houston.”

Torres signed a five-year contract with MLS in December 2014 after his former club Chivas USA folded. The league offered Torres to every club, and the Dynamo won the bid. There are two years left on his contract, though there is no word if the final season is based on a club or player option.

Various difficulties held back Torres during his first two seasons with the Dynamo. After scoring 22 goals in 44 games with Chivas USA in 2013 and 2014, Torres scored none for Houston in 22 games in 2015 and 2016.

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Reunited in Houston last season with his former Chivas USA coach Wilmer Cabrera, Torres scored a Dynamo-record 14 goals. Most of them came early in the season, and he didn’t score at all after Aug. 23.

Maintaining rhythm and being focused this year will be imperative as he tries to replicate the first six months of last year.

“If he wants to be here, that is important for him,” Cabrera said. “It is important for the club and for the fans. Now, we need to be sure he prepares himself at the level to continue competing among his teammates. We need to be sure that this is going to be a successful season for him. When you score 14 goals, everyone is expecting that you score the same or more.”

Torres said he hopes to break the record he set last season and to help the Dynamo reach the MLS Cup final. This could be his last chance to do that. Torres said he is prepared to make 2018 another good one for the Dynamo and that he has moved on from the Veracruz situation.

“There are some personal reasons (for why a move did not transpire) that I can't express out of respect to Veracruz and my career,” Torres said. “I spoke with my family and agent about the options, and we all agreed that the best thing for me was to stay here with the Houston Dynamo. I have a good relationship with people in this club.

“I am at a team where I have succeeded, there is a coaching staff that supports me, and for many other things I made the decision of staying here in Houston.”