Juanfran: I hope to return to Atletico Madrid soon, it's my home LaLiga Leaving after eight years at the club

Juanfran bid farewell to Atletico Madrid with hopes of returning to the club at some point in the near future.

The right-back leaves Los Rojiblancos after winning the LaLiga Santander title, the Europa League and the Copa del Rey among other honours during his eight-year stay.

"Thank you for coming. These are my last few days here at Atletico," Juanfran said during his farewell. "I hope to return soon. This is my home. This has become my home.

"It's been a fantastic few years, the best of my career. I've experienced great moments but also suffered a lot. I got stuck in a lot. Lots of things happened to me, but I carry all the people that love and respect me in my heart.

"I'm proud that I'm thought of as a legend of this great club. It's incredible that people think I'm one of them.

"I remember the day I arrived. I remember [Jesus Garcia] Pitarch, who brought me here. And you too, Miguel Angel [Gil Marin]. You chose me and you changed my life.

"I came with a Real Madrid past, with a Real Madrid father. I quickly changed to Atletico.

"The other day I read 'he arrived a Vikingo, he left an Indio'. It's amazing. It's magic that exists here. Being important here is something incredible."

Despite spending the best part of the last decade as Atletico's right-back, Juanfran admitted that he didn't liked defending when he first arrived at the club.

"I came as a winger, I never liked defending," he said. "Thanks to Gregorio Manzano, who trusted me and decided I would play [at right-back].

"And thanks to Diego [Simeone], who helped me be the player I am today, for teaching me defensive concepts and the will that I had to be important. Everyone good started from here.

"The fact that I'm on the list of the best full-backs in history is something incredible. I will always remember it as the best position of my life."

Before saying his final goodbye, Juanfran had a message for the Atletico supporters.

"To all the Atletico fans, thank you for loving me, for being proud of me," he went on. "You singing my name was better than winning titles. People want titles, but before this there's love and respect.

"Los Rojiblancos are my family. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. I will return soon to try and make us better. It's a moment of change, of transition.

"Others are staying to continue to pick up the slack. Koke is staying to be captain, there is no one better than him. I have lots of hopes for Atletico in the years to come. We will return to being champions."