Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid captain Koke talks future and retirement plans: “We will see what happens”
It is very difficult to find a one-club player in today’s modern and fast-moving world of football. While it is rare enough to hear of a player willing to commit his entire career to one institution, Lionel Messi’s story with Barcelona proves that sometimes even that is not enough.
That is what makes the story of Koke and Atletico Madrid special. The Spanish midfielder has been with the club through thick and thin, right from the tender age of six.
Now at 30, questions about his future are in the air. There has been a lot of speculation around whether or not Koke will end his career at the same club where he has played all his life. The Atletico Madrid captain responded to the speculation recently in an interview with DAZN.
“My idea has always been to retire here [at Atletico Madrid] but we will see what happens when my contract ends.
“I have two years left, this one and another, and my idea is to stay here. I don’t know what will happen, whatever has to come, welcome,” he said.
The midfielder signed a seven-year contract extension with Los Rojiblancos in 2017 and will be 32 years of age when his deal runs out in 2024.
While he is still the heart of the team’s midfield and going strong, the club may wish to make the inevitable transition to a younger midfield soon.
This season, Koke has participated in all eight games for his club, starting in seven. In that duration, he has racked up one assist and averaged close to eight defensive actions per game.
The 30-year-old is set to achieve a special milestone in Los Rojiblancos’ fixture against Sevilla on Saturday. At the Ramon Sanchez Pijzuan, he will put on the red-and-white colours for the 554th time, making him the player with the most appearances in Atletico Madrid’s history.
Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid midfielder on the derby against Real Madrid: “Very difficult to beat them”
Following a 1-1 draw in their Champions League opener against Lazio, Atletico Madrid will shift all their attention to La Liga, as they brace themselves for the derby against Real Madrid this weekend.
Heading into this game, Atleti midfielder Marcos Llorente spoke about Real Madrid’s quality and Atletico Madrid’s chances of squeezing all three points from this iconic derby.
Llorente on Madrid derby
“The sensations are good. The team is very good, the other day we played a great game despite ending up drawing. I really think that the team did a great job that must be maintained for this match,” Llorente said in an interview with Diario AS.
When asked whether or not Real Madrid being tagged as favourites could aid Atleti, the midfielder said, “Honestly, it neither motivates me nor demotivates me. We simply have to do what we work on during the week, what the coach asks of us.”
Llorente stressed the importance of the game, adding, “It is a great rival we have in front of us, they are having a very good start to the season and that motivates me and everyone to try to play a good game.”
“Real Madrid is a great club, they have great players and it is very difficult to beat them. I think we have competed, we have also achieved several draws, but in the end, either you go out one hundred percent and do things very, very well or it is difficult to beat them,” he added.
A former member of the Real Madrid youth academy, Llorente joined Atletico Madrid in 2019. Since then, he has racked up over 150 competitive appearances for Los Colchoneros.
Llorente, though, said he feels no sense of vindication when he performs well against his former team.
“No. In the end, it’s been many years since I left there and I’m at Atlético. Perhaps in the first years, those types of feelings and sensations can arise, but today they no longer do,” he said.
Llorente on Vinicius, Koke & Bellingham
The Atletico Madrid star went on to talk about other aspects of the game, including the fact that his team had one less player every time they faced Real Madrid last season.
“I have zero worries. These are things that are not in our remit, that escape our hands. We play football, the referees referee and those who have to decide decide,” he said.
Llorente, in fact, said that the return of Koke could be a real boost for Atleti. “It is always good that Koke is with us, both on the field and in the day-to-day life of the game,” he said.
“Beyond the grass. The support he gives, the advice he gives us, his experience. it is always important to have him and it is great news that he is already training with us,” he added.
Talking about the absence of Vinicius Junior and the form of Jude Bellingham, Llorente said, “Well, you have to be careful with everyone. All Real Madrid players are very good and can make a difference at any moment of the game. Bellingham is having a great start and we have to take that into account and be very focused.”
Finally, Marcos Llorente put out a message for all the Atletico Madrid fans, claiming their support ahead of this crucial encounter this weekend.
“It will be a full house as always. We don’t have to tell them anything, they know the importance of this match for Atlético, we know that they never fail, they are always supporting us and we count on them,” he said.
