Madrid 21:19h CEST

The official television channel of Liga MX club Toluca took the opportunity of Atlético Madrid’s pre-season visit to speak to Fernando Torres, who turned down a multi-million euro offer to play in Mexico with Cruz Azul earlier in the summer.

Torres: "This is where I feel genuinely happy"

Speaking about his love affair with boyhood club Atlético, the former Liverpool and Chelsea striker made his intention to remain in the Spanish capital clear: “I am at home. 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.”

The 33-year-old was also asked his manager, Diego Simeone, and what he has brought to the club since he arrived in December, 2011. “Simeone has reinforced the belief that has always been what this club is about. 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.”

Full screen HENRY ROMERO (REUTERS)

"Atlético are writing their own history now"

“Nobody is inferior to anybody if you give it everything you have,” Torres continued. “That is the spirit we want to display to the world. The big clubs have written their history in years gone by and everyone else now has the opportunity to write new histories in their own way and that is the path that Atlético is on right now.”