Football
ESPN staff 9y

Diego Simeone asked for Fernando Torres, Atletico Madrid president says

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has told Cadena COPE that coach Diego Simeone was behind the decision to sign Fernando Torres.

Atletico confirmed on Monday that Torres is set to return to the club on an 18-month loan from AC Milan, subject to a medical, with Alessio Cerci set to move in the opposite direction as part of the agreement.

Cerezo said Simeone had specifically requested that the 30-year-old be brought back to the Calderon, despite knowing it would be a complicated deal.

"Simeone hardly ever asks us for anything but he asked for Torres," he said in quotes translated by AS. "It wasn't easy to bring him back here but after a lot of hard work, we made it possible. It's a happy and important day for Atleti."

Torres technically remains a Chelsea player, having joined Milan on a two-year loan deal in the summer, but the English club announced at the weekend that the Spaniard will join the Rossoneri on a permanent deal on Jan. 5, which has paved the way for his move back to Spain.

Cerci's agent had also been negotiating a move to Milan's city rivals Inter, and Cerezo acknowledged that it had been a difficult transfer, but he said: "Sometimes things work out well because they have been dealt with correctly.

"In this case it was a happy ending. Talks had been going on for the past few weeks.

"AC Milan were keen on taking Cerci and under the circumstances, everyone has ended up happy with the arrangement. It was one of those occasions in life when everything went according to plan."

There had also been questions raised as to how Atletico would afford Torres' wages but Cerezo, who confirmed his club will pay the striker's salary during the loan and Milan will pay Cerci's, said it was not a problem.

"During negotiations with Fernando, the subject of money wasn't raised -- there was no need," he said. "His heart is at Atletico and he is excited to be coming back, as are the fans."

Torres also addressed the media on his return to the Spanish capital on Tuesday and expressed hope that he might make his debut against Real Madrid on Jan. 7.

"I'm excited, happy to have returned and looking forward to starting work," he said in quotes reported by Marca. "I've never needed to say anything to Atletico staff and fans, because they've said everything already, and as always I'm grateful to them.

"Simeone wanted me to arrive yesterday, but that wasn't possible in the end. I'm looking forward to starting training and hope that I can already officially be an Atletico player on Jan. 5."

On the possibility of facing Real in the Copa del Rey, he added: "God willing, that's when I'll get my debut."

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