MADRID — Spain forward Fernando Torres has agreed to return to Atletico Madrid on loan from AC Milan until the end of the 2015-16 season, seven-and-a-half years after leaving his boyhood club, the La Liga champion said Monday.
Torres, 30, has been struggling for goals since joining Chelsea from Liverpool in 2011 and moved to Milan on loan in August.
Chelsea and Milan agreed Saturday to make the switch permanent, paving the way for Torres to be loaned to Atletico, where he will hope to resurrect his stuttering career under inspirational coach Diego Simeone.
“At last back home. Thanks to all that have made this dream come true,” Torres wrote on his Twitter feed shortly after Atletico confirmed the deal under a giant “Torres is back” banner on their website (www.clubatleticodemadrid.com).
The deal is subject to Torres passing a medical and will be finalized on Jan. 5 when the Italian transfer window opens, Atletico said.
“In this way, the forward from Fuenlabrada returns to his home where he was trained as a footballer and became one of their big stars,” the club added.
A World Cup and double European Championship winner with Spain, Torres joined Atletico at the age of 11.
Known as ‘El Nino’ (The Kid), he made his first-team debut as a 17-year-old in 2001, when Madrid’s second club was in the second division, and was appointed club captain two years later, becoming a huge favorite with the fans.
When he left for Liverpool in July 2007, having scored 91 goals in 244 appearances, he pledged to return and could make his debut against holder Real Madrid in the first leg of a King’s Cup last 16 tie on Jan. 7.
As well as a decorated career with Spain, Torres helped Chelsea win the Champions League in 2012 and the Europa League a year later.
For one week in May 2013, Torres and compatriot and Chelsea teammate Juan Mata were holders of the World Cup, European Championship, Champions League and Europa League titles.
Japan loses Uchida
Experienced Japanese fullback Atsuto Uchida has been ruled out of next month’s Asian Cup title defense in Australia after failing to recover from a knee injury.
The Schalke defender was replaced by Kashima Antlers’ Naomichi Ueda in the 23-man squad, the Japanese Football Association said Sunday.
The 26-year-old Uchida has played 72 times for the Blue Samurai, including matches at the World Cup in Brazil earlier this year and the Asian Cup triumph in Qatar in 2011. The holder has been drawn in Group D of the 16-team tournament alongside Jordan, Palestine and 2007 winner Iraq.
It opens its campaign on Jan. 12 in Newcastle against outsider Palestine. — Agencies
