- Llorente was one of the key players in the team of coach Diego Simeone.
- He explained that his decision was not influenced by Spain's potential win.
- Llorente began his professional career at Real Madrid.
Former Real Madrid player and Spain international Marcos Llorente has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 31.
The Atlético Madrid player has represented Spain 27 times and has called time on his international career, although he is still fairly young and active in La Liga.
Llorente was one of the key players in the team of coach Diego Simeone at Atlético Madrid, thanks to his versatility, high energy, and ability to help the team in attack and defence.
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Marcos Llorente Explains Decision To Retire
In a farewell letter, Llorente described his decision as deeply personal and something he had considered carefully.
“It was a personal decision, one I’ve thought through very carefully and, above all, one that comes from the heart,” Llorente said.
The Atlético Madrid star also made it clear that his decision was not influenced by Spain's potential participation or success at the upcoming World Cup. According to Llorente, the outcome of the tournament would not have changed his mind.
“Regardless of whether I had gone to the World Cup or not, or whether we had won or not, I had already made this decision,” he said.
Llorente also acknowledged that many supporters could find it difficult to understand why he had chosen to step away from international football at just 31.
“I realize that I’m still young and that, perhaps, if I continued to perform well, I’d still have years left to play in this jersey,” he said.
“I know many of you won’t understand this, and I probably wouldn’t have understood it either if I were looking at it from the outside.”
Llorente Thanks Spain Teammates
The midfielder ended his farewell letter by thanking his Spain teammates and reflecting on the journey he shared with the national team.
“I’ll cherish everything I’ve experienced, but above all, these last 52 days. With a wonderful group that fought until the very end to put Spain at the top. And that’s exactly what they did,” Llorente said.
His decision marks the end of a significant chapter for a player who has enjoyed success at both club and international level.
Marcos Llorente’s Achievements For Club And Country
Llorente began his professional career at Real Madrid and was a member of the team during a period when the club enjoyed significant European success. He later moved to Atlético Madrid, where his evolution into an important player for Diego Simeone could be observed.
While playing for Real Madrid, he was part of the side that helped achieve outstanding results, including victories in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.
Once he had moved to Atlético, Llorente became even more important in Simeone’s setup, helping the team compete for domestic and European trophies thanks to his versatility in playing different positions.
He was also a member of Atlético's La Liga-winning team in the 2020-2021 season and made a significant contribution to the team's title win.
At international level, Llorente was capped 27 times by Spain due to his ability to play in different positions.