Tuesday 12 April 2016 09:36, UK
Terry Gibson has urged Diego Simeone to extend Fernando Torres' stay at Atletico Madrid beyond this summer.
The former Liverpool and Chelsea striker's second spell at the Vicente Calderon is slowing winding to an end, with his loan from parent club AC Milan set to expire on June 30.
The culmination of his 18-month loan at his boyhood club also marks the end of his contract at Milan, meaning Torres could be looking for another club come July.
The Spaniard has been linked with a surprise move to Barcelona by reports in the Spanish press, while the 32-year-old is also one of the latest players to attract interest from the Chinese Super League.
And Gibson believes Torres' close affinity with Atletico, coupled with his elder-statesman status, makes him an attractive proposition for Simeone, so long as the player's wage demands are not extortionate.
"Torres has a genuine affection with Atletico, it's the club he grew up supporting and it's where he first made his mark in professional football," Gibson told the La Liga weekly podcast.
"It was inevitable that he was going to go back at some stage. Diego Simeone is an old team-mate of Torres so, if it was ever going to work anywhere for Torres, it would have been at that club.
"If I was Simeone I would keep Torres, although a lot depends on his salary. I wouldn't say I'd do everything to keep him but I would put a reasonable amount of effort in.
"If Torres gets offer from other clubs that are offering huge sums of money - for example China - then the player has a decision to make.
"If the wages were reasonable then I think Simeone would be clever enough to know Torres is good to have around the place and in the squad.
"If he loves the club that much and he is happy being the more experienced player among a young group of players then Torres may well take up that option."
With the exception of his rash dismissal in Atletico's Champions League quarter-final defeat against Barcelona, Torres has steadily seen his influence and performance levels increase.
If I was Simeone I would keep Torres. I would put a reasonable amount of effort in.
Since February, he has scored six goals in 11 appearances for Los Colchoneros, compared to two in the previous 24, and Gibson has highlighted Torres' self-adaptation to his game as reason for his improvement.
"His recent form has been excellent," Gibson added. "What I've liked about Torres this season is that he has changed his game as he is not as dynamic as he was in his Liverpool days or his early days at Atletico.
"It has taken Torres a while to adapt because he lost that blistering pace he had when he was younger, he has had a series of niggling injuries and he didn't play regularly at Chelsea.
"He now appears to be a striker that's more than willing to work hard; he runs the channels and chases lost causes, he can hold the ball up, he is more aggressive and looks physically stronger.
"So he has been really clever in adapting his game and joining in with the underdog philosophy present at Atletico."
