Fernando Torres is set to complete another return to former club Atletico Madrid to fulfil his role as a coach.
The Spaniard, 37, stepped back from his duties back in February, citing personal reasons, but remained intent on being involved for the forthcoming season.
Now Atleti have confirmed the news he will be joining up with the backroom team again ahead of the 2021/22 campaign and will be taking charge of their ‘Juvenil A’ (youth) side.
In a statement posted on their website, the La Liga club wrote: “Fernando Torres has returned home.”
The club also reflected on his experiences with their various teams last season “to learn about the day-to-day life of their coaching staff and the club’s own methodology.”
(Image: REUTERS)
Torres is currently working towards his UEFA coaching badges, and this season will be his first involved from the dugout.
Speaking back in May, the former striker had teased the prospect of him potentially returning to the field.
“I only understand one way of life; playing,” he wrote. “That’s why I’ve decided to return.”
But he has no plans on coming out of retirement as he begins the next phase of his career.
Atletico is the ideal place for Torres to earn his stripes, where he is adored by the club’s fans following his stunning contributions there as a player.
After starting his career with the Rojiblancos, Torres returned eight years later following spells at Liverpool, Chelsea and AC Milan.
He stayed for three seasons in his second stint, winning the Europa League in the process before ending his playing days with a brief spell at Japanese side Sagan Tosu.
What is your biggest memory of Fernando Torres as a player? Let us know in the comments below.
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
His relationship with current Atletico boss Diego Simeone could provide an obstacle though, after Torres was critical of his old boss in the Amazon documentary named after him.
Speaking on ‘Fernando Torres: The Last Symbol’, he said: “I don’t think he [Simeone] ever saw me as his starting striker.
“For me the most important thing was that I was where I was supposed to be. I wasn’t too worried about the conditions.
“What I felt was a great responsibility to the fans. I never asked Simeone for any kind of explanation because I know how he is.
“I don’t know if it was something personal or professional or a bit of both.
“I understand it can get complicated for a manager to manage the return of a player like me. But at some point everything just came to a head. It just blew up.
“I could accept that reality that maybe I wasn’t up to starting 40 matches of the season as the starting striker but I could never understand how he wouldn’t even have me sitting on the bench for games.”
Torres added: “They asked him if he wanted to keep me for another season and he said no.
“It was the first time he gave an unfortunate answer like that and it created an awkward situation for the fans.
“I went to a meeting because I thought that he might be ready to offer an apology or an explanation, but that’s not what happened.
“Simeone was my mate. He was my idol, then my team-mate and then my manager, I understand that must have been an awkward situation for him.”
