The Atlético de Madrid full-back, Marcos Llorente, has surprisingly announced on his social media that he is retiring from the Spanish National Team in a “personal, very thoughtful, and above all, very heartfelt” decision. “I know many of you will not understand it and, surely, I wouldn’t have understood it from the outside either,” he explains in an Instagram post.
The player, who had already hinted at an early retirement from football in the mixed zone at Camp Nou when his team eliminated FC Barcelona to qualify for the Copa del Rey final, also explains that the decision was made “regardless of whether I had gone to the World Cup or not, or whether I had won or not.”
Llorente points out that although he is still young, 31 years old, and perhaps, if he kept doing things well, he would have a few more years as an international, he has decided to step aside.
The Atlético player thanks all the people he has met over the years and that both his family and he could live “unique and unforgettable” moments. Not least, the one on July 19 when he lifted the World Cup to the sky of New York.
In fact, the footballer assures that he cherishes what he has experienced and the last 52 days, referring to the period he spent concentrated in the United States for the World Cup event, “with a wonderful group that fought until the end to keep Spain at the top. And they did.” “It has been a pride to represent my country and be part of this history,” the player wrote.
Marcos Llorente has played 27 matches with the Spanish national team in which he has provided four assists. The full-back started as a starter in the United States World Cup but was eventually replaced in the starting eleven by Pedro Porro.
Llorente debuted with Luis Enrique in the national team in a friendly against the Netherlands in which he played 18 minutes. Besides the World Cup, the rojiblanco player has played in one European Championship, where Spain reached the semifinals and was eliminated by Italy, and in three Nations League tournaments.
Read more The island paradise that acts as a secret hub to evade sanctions against Russia
