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Yannick Carrasco explains Atletico Madrid departure

Yannick Carrasco says that he left Atletico Madrid for Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang in order to build "momentum" ahead of the World Cup.

Yannick Carrasco has suggested that he understands any criticism regarding his decision to leave Atletico Madrid for the Chinese Super League.

Carrasco had netted 23 goals in 124 appearances for the Spanish giants since July 2015, but a lack of outings during the current campaign resulted in a January switch to Dalian Yifang.

The winger has acknowledged that his decision may appear unusual, but says that he needed to gain some "momentum" ahead of potentially representing Belgium at this summer's World Cup.

The 24-year-old is quoted by Goal.com as saying: "There is always criticism in the world of football about if I had stayed or not. They are complicated decisions that have to be made in life. China is not exactly a league we know, but it's true that at Atletico I did not have too many minutes to play.

"For me, it was important to have momentum ahead of the World Cup that comes this summer."

Dalian currently sit at the bottom of the Chinese Super League after losing their first three games and failing to score a goal.

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Darren Plant
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atletico MadridAtletico19135134122244
2Real Madrid19134243192443
3Barcelona19122551222938
4Athletic Bilbao19106329171236
5Villarreal198653431330
6Mallorca199371921-230
7Real Sociedad198471713428
8GironaGirona198472725228
9Rayo Vallecano196762222025
10Real BetisBetis196762123-225
11Osasuna196762328-525
12Celta Vigo197392830-224
13Sevilla196582128-723
14Las PalmasLas Palmas196492429-522
15Getafe194781316-319
16Leganes194781829-1119
17AlavesAlaves1945102131-1017
18Espanyol1944111731-1416
19Real ValladolidValladolid1943121337-2415
20Valencia1927101829-1113


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