Former Real Madrid GM Jorge Valdano has sympathy for Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone over his management of Fernando Torres.

Simeone is overseeing the final six months of Torres' career with Atletico, having admitted he is unlikely to request the striker be handed a deal for next season.

Valdano told El Transistor: "It's a situation twice complicated for Simeone because he has to manage the end of a player's career.

"Something similar happened to me with (Emilio) Butragueño and I. We also suffered those problems, I had to fire a legend and also a player who had been my teammate, even a roommate.

"There comes a time when things end and although one tries to lengthen the path of a legend, this is relentless and if you want to remain competitive sometimes you have to keep making decisions that hurt both the public and the player."