Fernando Torres warrants a deal to keep him at Atletico Madrid beyond this season, according to Diego Forlan.

Torres is on loan at Atletico until the end of the season, when his contract with parent club AC Milan also expires.

The 32-year-old ended a barren run of almost five months to score his 100th goal for the club in the 3-1 win over Eibar on February 6 and has since converted a further five times.

Three of those have come in his last three appearances and Forlan – a Pichichi winner with Atletico in 2008-09 – feels the form he has shown makes him worthy of a permanent contract.

"It's very important for the people and he is a player who is performing, is physically well, is scoring goals," the Uruguayan told Cope.

"It is not a matter of renewing a player because he is from the club and has known it all of his life. In a team playing 60 games a year, he will play 35 or 40 and can help with goals or assists."