Fernando Torres answered the questions of the mass media at the act in which he signed the extension of his contract until 2009. After a short speech by Enrique Cerezo, President of Atletico of Madrid, the forward took the microphone in front of the presents in the VIP room of the Vicente Calderon Stadium: “I want to thank the club because they have made a great effort in every way. After a busy summer, in which a lot of people talked about my going away, what this agreement has allowed is to show that I’ve always wanted to stay and that the Club has always wanted me to stay. This is what has allowed that great European clubs have come and at the end the offer of my club has been most important that any offer out from here”.

- Which have been the clues for the agreement renewal?

- I think us, the atletics, are different. I am still feeling like a supporter, and I know what they feel because they told me everyday in the street. Their support and their affection has been very important for me in order to take the decision of not to listen for to any other club. Another clubs have come with a lot of money, but above the feelings and the present project there’s nothing, and that is what has inspired us to stay together three more years.

- Which are your feelings in this important day for you and for the club?

- This day is very special for me. I want to thank the supporters, the club and everyone who have made possible that we stay here. After a summer full of rumours we have always said that both parts, the club and me, we want to keep together and at the end it is that what have happened. The money and titles they could offer to me won’t change our mind. We want to live together the happiness of achieving titles and to see the supporters celebrate it at Madrid’s streets.

- Reducing the annulment clause is not an invitation for the great clubs to pay it next year?

- Above all it is a symbolic gesture. When a player wants to go, he leaves, independently of the clause of the contract he has. That could have already happened and it hasn’t. It is not a relevant fact. Above money and what they could offer another clubs exist the intention of both parts. Always, after the amount, there is the word of the club and mine.

- Has it been decisive for the renewal that this project is, maybe, the best one since you are in Atletico?

- Every year we have tried to make things well, and we have done a great effort. Each season we learn of the mistakes of the previous one, they have valued what we lacked these last years and we have done a project in which the supporters believe. This year the sport results are going to be on our side and the club is going to grow. This is going to be the first year in which we can talk about a great Atletico of Madrid.

- Is it truth the interest of some applicant to the presidency of Real Madrid in your signing up?

- It is truth that some of them called. An applicant doesn’t represent a club. The team that wants to come to sign me up knows that they should talk with Atletico, we are not going to talk with anybody. The first ones who get to know the offers are Miguel Angel Gil and Enrique Cerezo. It is truth that applicants have come and we have listened to them, because it is necessary to listen to everybody, but at no moment we have sat to negotiate.

- What does it mean to you Atletico of Madrid?

- Atletico is a club that gave me the opportunity to form me as a player. I have lived as a supporter, the double title and the second division.... and all that makes you more athletic. It gave me the opportunity to debut at the first categories, to be international, to carry out the dream of my life and to dedicate my life to what I really like. Just as Atletico gave me a lot of things, I owe a lot of things to the club. One of them is to return it to the place that belongs historically. If I don’t get it I will always be indebted to this club. I’m young and I have time to achieve a title with this club and while I would have time to do it I am going to try it.


Photo: www.fernando9torres.com