MADRID — Fernando Torres says he has returned to Atletico Madrid to rekindle his competitive spirit with his boyhood club. Torres was presented Sunday to thousands of fans at Vicente Calderon Stadium while waiting for his loan from AC Milan to become official when the Italian transfer market opens Monday. Torres, who left Atletico in 2007 for Liverpool, says “I was missing something to motivate me, something that I could only find here.” The Spain striker had struggled this season at Milan with only one goal in 10 appearances since Chelsea loaned him to the Italian club. He could make his debut against crosstown rival Real Madrid in the first leg of their round-of-16 Copa del Rey tie Wednesday. Lille out of French Cup Lille suffered more disappointment in a frustrating season Saturday as it was knocked out of the French Cup at the first hurdle by Ligue 1 rival Bastia. A first-half brace by Floyd Ayite gave the hosts a 2-0 victory in Corsica and sent Lille, already eliminated from Europe and languishing in the bottom half in the league, packing. Rene Girard's side were not the only top-flight team to be knocked out in the round of 64 on Saturday, with Nice being beaten 2-0 at Ligue 2 Valenciennes on the day they announced an agreement to sign France winger Hatem Ben Arfa. Meanwhile, Lorient was beaten 1-0 away at third-tier side Avranches in Normandy, but Evian, Reims and Nantes all won against opponents from the sixth tier. Nantes emerged 4-0 winner at home against Club Franciscain, which was attempting to become the first side from the French Caribbean island of Martinique to reach the last 32. West Ham signs Canadian defender West Ham United have signed Canadian defender Doneil Henry from Apollon Limassol of Cyprus, the English Premier League club announced Saturday. Henry, 21, arrives for an undisclosed fee on what West Ham have described as “a long-term contract.” “It feels good to be given the opportunity to come and train and see what it's like to be part of a Premier League team and I just want to get started and get into the team real soon,” central defender Henry, who has won 14 caps for Canada, told West Ham's official website. Henry started his career at Toronto FC and spent time training with West Ham in 2013 before being signed by Apollon Limassol and loaned back to Toronto. He was recommended to West Ham manager Sam Allardyce by Toronto head coach Ryan Nelsen, the former Blackburn Rovers defender and New Zealand captain. – Agencies
