"Torres' return to Atletico good for him and Spain"

Spain manager Vicente del Bosque has expressed his delight at the return of striker Fernando Torres to La Liga holders Atletico Madrid and has predicted that it will be good "for him" and also for the national football team as it will be easier to keep track of the player's progress.

"He has the opportunity to play and I think that's good. He and Atletico Madrid have come together again. He's playing well and against Real he played an extraordinary game", Del Bosque was quoted as saying by marca.com Saturday.

Torres returned to his boyhood club in the January transfer window after a six-month loan spell at Italian club Ac Milan. He announced his arrival with a superb brace over arch-rivals Real Madrid that helped his team to a 4-2 aggregate win over two legs in the Kings Cup.

Del Bosque, however, refused to pick a favourite in the upcoming second leg Kings Cup game between FC Barcelona and Atletico.

Barcelona are leading the tie 1-0 after a first leg victory courtesy striker Lionel Messi's penalty.

He said he was glad that the tournament, second in grade after La Liga, offered a great level of competition.

He described the competition as "very interesting and I'm sure it'll be exciting stuff right up to the final".

"The group of 16 stage was good and these quarter-finals are too; it's going to be a great competition", he said.