Beijing time (CEST) September 4, Spanish midfielder Perez, 37, announced on social media that he would end his professional football career.

Perez's Social Media Post

The moment of farewell has finally arrived. After more than twenty years in football, I have decided to end my professional career as a player.

It all started at my hometown club, Écija Balompié, where as a child I planted my football dreams and never dared imagine how far I would go.

From there, I came to Atlético Madrid, growing through the youth academy, where both my skills and my character were refined, and I fulfilled my dream of wearing the main team's shirt.

From that point on, an unforgettable journey began: Deportivo La Coruña, Getafe, Real Betis, Elche, Torino, Granada, Leganés, Panathinaikos and Kifisia FC. Every club, every city, every shirt is etched with my story.

I also had the great honour of representing Spain and winning the U-21 European Championship in 2011.

But the most precious part of this journey is all the people I met along the way.

Thank you to all the fans, my teammates, coaches and technical staff, and every colleague who accompanied me over the years. Special thanks to my family. With every decision, every move, whether in moments of joy or in the darkest times, you were always by my side. Behind every match, every achievement, there is your contribution. This dream belongs to you as well.

I leave with pride and gratitude, the boy who started his football dream in Écija has finally fulfilled it.

From today on, I am no longer a professional player, but I will never stop loving football.

Thank you, football. Thank you all. It has been a great honour to have had all of this. (End of social media post)

Spanish midfielder Perez, 37, came through Atlético Madrid's youth academy and won the Europa League with Atlético Madrid. He was successively loaned to Torino, Deportivo La Coruña, Real Betis, Granada and Leganés, and played in the Greek league in the final stages of his career. As a member of Spain's U-21 European Championship winning squad in 2011, he played for more than ten clubs over a professional career spanning more than twenty years, which ends today.

Traduzido por IA.

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