Both Atletico and Real Madrid called my dad, but at that time, I wasn't doing too well at school, and they wouldn't let me go until my grades improved. They both called back, and since Atleti was closer to home, I joined their football academy. It was the start of a period where I stopped enjoying football - I lost the love for it.

Alvaro Morata

Alvaro Morata

Time Love Home

Speed isn't everything, but he'd be a great striker at Atletico. Usain Bolt would be perfect for our game. Me behind and him up front. The best!

Antoine Griezmann

Great Would Very

I'm very happy at Atletico. I'm very proud to play for these fans, with these players, and with this coach. I want to try and pay back the confidence and care that the people at Atletico have always shown me.

Antoine Griezmann

Car Wit Ways

People might talk more about Real Madrid and Barcelona than about Atletico, but what matters to me is what happens on the pitch. We compete with them year after year. I am not interested about the club's reputation.

Antoine Griezmann

Pet Year Wit

At Atletico, I've improved at the highest level, and in the Champions League, I've turned a corner.

Antoine Griezmann

Turned Turn T

I'm so good at Atletico. Honestly, I don't see myself leaving.

Antoine Griezmann

Good T Self

I want to try and pay back the confidence and care that the people at Atletico have always shown me.

Antoine Griezmann

Car Ways Way

I want to win titles with Atletico.

Antoine Griezmann

Wit Win Want

Manchester United are a great club, and being associated with them is a great compliment for me, but Atletico are also great.

David de Gea

Men Great Wit

I've done everything to come back to Atletico, but I wouldn't fight the same to return. When Atletico didn't wait for me, I had to go to Conte with the tail between my legs.

Diego Costa

Would Wit Wait

I wished I could go back to Atletico; I'm not going to lie.

Diego Costa

Wished Wish T

On Conte's first day, I told him that I wanted to join Atletico, and he was upset with me and didn't even look at me. Luckily, I started to score goals.

Diego Costa

Art Wit Wanted

Chelsea's fans love me a lot, even more than in Atletico. Figure that!

Diego Costa

Love Than T

I thought it was very important to keep growing with Atletico and to play there for many years.

Diego Costa

Years Year Wit

Atletico know I have a special feeling for the team. I lived the best moment of my career there.

Diego Costa

Mom Men Car

I am not saying that I am at the same level as Messi or Ronaldo. They are the best two players in the world, but I am very proud that I managed to finish above them in the goalscoring charts, especially as I was playing for Atletico Madrid, not Barcelona or Real Madrid.

Diego Forlan

Art Age Yin

I am very happy here at Atletico, and I want to bring the same kind of joy to all the fans.

Diego Forlan

Want Very T

Atletico players have always been characterised by this kind of player in attack like Fernando Torres, Sergio Aguero, Diego Costa, and Radamel Falcao.

Diego Forlan

Ways Way T

Winning the Europa League with Atletico Madrid and then reaching a semi-final of the World Cup is great.

Diego Forlan

Great World Cup World

Atletico fans were always so desperate for us to win; it was like a religion to them.

Diego Forlan

Religion Win Were

To score is always special; to score in the Bernabeu for Atletico is incredible.

Diego Forlan

When Atletico wanted to sell me, I was told that I earned too much money and they wanted me off the wage bill. I liked that honesty.

Diego Forlan

I owe a lot to Atletico, and I cannot say that I would like to play for another team.

Diego Godin

I had many ups and downs at Atletico, achieving the best and the worst.

Diego Godin

It's not enough to just have talent at Atletico Madrid. At other clubs it is, but we can't sign superstars and have to look for players with a good work ethic.

Diego Simeone

I'm very happy in charge at Atletico. The squad give me commitment, talent and style.

Diego Simeone

Ajax have a set model, a defined youth programme - Barcelona have one too, and Juventus. And Atletico Madrid do too. Real Madrid don't - because they alternate developing their own players with signing talent.

Diego Simeone

It's not easy to play for Atletico. Talent is not enough, the bar is very high.

Diego Simeone

Finding myself in a final with Atletico makes me happy. Why? Because I know the feelings of all the people at the club - because I know how the players feel. They need to see their team as champions, so we have more fans every day.

Diego Simeone

Atletico is a rival who will never give up.

Ernesto Valverde

When I was a child, my dream was to play for Atletico.

Fernando Torres

It was very hard to go through life as a small boy supporting Atletico.

Fernando Torres

I remember when I first came to Liverpool, Pepe Reina helped with everything, and he made it easy for me. When I was Atletico Madrid captain, I tried to help everyone. These are the basics in football: you need to create an atmosphere and try to create a group of friends. It's not easy, and it doesn't always happen, but you have to try.

Fernando Torres

Liverpool is a fundamental part of my life. They don't remember me that way, but time will change that. I could not have chosen a better place to go when I left Atletico.

Fernando Torres

I just do not see myself playing for Madrid. They do not attract me, especially because of my past with Atletico.

Fernando Torres

Liverpool is a massive club in reputation, but as soon as I came here, it felt like Atletico to me. It is a working city, an honest city. The people work all week, and on Saturday they want to go to Anfield and watch the best team in the world.

Fernando Torres

I was captain in Atletico at 19, playing in the same team as Demetrio Albertini, who won three Champions Leagues, and Sergi Barjuan from Barcelona, who had won everything, and they were 32, 33. I was a kid as captain, so I wasn't the real captain, just a kid learning from them.

Fernando Torres

My father worked every day; my brother and sister had to travel many hours to study, so Atletico were for people like us.

Fernando Torres

I was not a Liverpool fan or a Chelsea fan in Madrid. I was an Atletico fan. I still am. Maybe they're the only badge I will kiss.

Fernando Torres

When Atletico tried to buy me back, I did everything I could to make it possible. I had offers from clubs in France and Italy, but I would not have left Chelsea for any other side - only for Atletico Madrid.

Filipe Luis

Paulinho will surprise many people. If he does not fit at Barca, he would at Atletico.

Filipe Luis

I've had some of the best years of my career at Atletico and remember the supporters, my teammates, and the coaching staff fondly.

Filipe Luis

I hope I can retire at Atletico Madrid.

Filipe Luis

I was delighted when I found out that Atletico wanted to take me back. It's the best thing that could have happened to me.

Filipe Luis

With regards to the fans, whenever I've played in the Atletico shirt, I have given all that I can. I think I will win the fans back on the field and not with words.

Filipe Luis

Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are our rivals in domestic competitions, and they'll both fight to the end to win the League.

Iker Casillas

Diego Simeone, the coach from Atletico Madrid, was a very strong player as a midfielder.

Lothar Matthaus

I think it's a thing in France, and I think you see it a little bit in Spain with Atletico: the countries and the cities just absolutely love their football. It's not because they're just marketing geniuses; it's because they've made it simple.

Lucy Bronze

I played soccer when I was a kid. I started when I was 8 and played for 8 more years. I was pretty good. I used to train with Atletico Nacional, which is one of the most important teams in Colombia. I used to train every day.

Maluma

I've never considered leaving Atletico because I'm happy here.

Mario Mandzukic