Fernando Llorente: 'I will remain focused'

Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente has insisted that he will continue to help the team this season.

The 27-year-old, who revealed in the summer that he will not be signing a new contract, reportedly came close to joining Juventus in August.

He scored for Bilbao in their 3-3 draw with Espanyol on Sunday, but he has reiterated a desire to leave the club in January.

"In January, I am free to negotiate my future. But I want to be focused to try to help the team. It has been a bumpy and hard summer," he told he told Radio Cadena Ser.

"I've had to make tough decisions. You never know how things are going and I had to go through difficult times. When you pass bad times, you get stronger and I'm happy things are calmer."

Llorente scored 29 goals for the club last season.