Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres is unsure about where he could be plying his trade next season. The Spain international is expected to leave Atleti at the expiry of his contract in the summer, but he has yet to decide on his next challenge. Speaking to Cadena SER, he said: “I have not made the decision. I will say it as I have said: that I leave Atletico. I will not continue in Spain. Europe? I don’t know. One has an idea that can then change.”

Torres had initially made up his mind to retire with the Capital outfit, but things have not gone as planned under Diego Simeone. There had been a talk of a rift between the Spaniard and the manager regarding his playing time, and reports have since associated the 34-year-old with several clubs across the world.

Out of his many admirers, Newcastle United have regularly been linked of late, and much of this may have to do with Torres’ previous association with manager Rafael Benitez. The Spaniard enjoyed a purple patch under the head coach during his time at Liverpool, and the pair combined once more at Chelsea, where Benitez guided the Blues to Europa League success as the interim boss.

A talk of a reunion would have been fruitful couple of years ago, but the striker is now surely past his prime. Torres’ availability on a Bosman would no doubt tempt any mid-table club in the Premier League, but his wages could emerge as another stumbling block to a short-term move. As such, the Spaniard may be lured to the Chinese Super League, where a host of players have earned bumper paychecks. Both Nicolas Gaitan and Yannick Carassco made the surprise switch to the Far East in February, and Torres could be enticed into a fresh challenge outside of Europe.