Fernando Torres
Profile:
Name in native country: Fernando José Torres SanzDate of birth: 20.03.1984
Place of birth: Madrid
Age: 27
Height: 1,86
Nationality: Spain
Position: Striker - Centre Forward
Foot: right
Market value: 37.000.000 £ 42.000.000 €
Player's agent: Bahía Internacional
Biography:
Fernando Torres arrived at Chelsea on transfer deadline day, January 31, 2011 after three-and-a-half seasons with Liverpool and scoring pedigree in English football that was without doubt. Aged 26 at the time of his move, he had netted 65 goals in 102 league appearances for the Reds and 81 in 142 games in all competitions.He originally moved to the Premier League aged 23 having spent the previous 12 years at Atletico Madrid, a club based a few miles from the town of his birth on the outskirts of the capital city.
In his time at Atletico, 'El Nino' (The Kid - his nickname in Spain) was the club's youngest player and youngest captain. His debut came aged 17 and he took the armband two years later.
His first full season there was a quiet start with just six goals from 36 league appearances, but that became 13 from 29 games the next year and the 20-goal mark was reached in 2003/04, Fernando's most prolific season in Spain and the year of his debut for the national side.
The player's subsequent emergence on the international stage and 75 goals in 174 Spanish top-flight games meant many clubs across Europe were after his signature and he chose to work under compatriot Rafael Benitez at Liverpool.
The transfer in July 2007 was valued at approximately £20 million, Luis Garcia going the other way, and Fernando's first goal for the Merseysiders was against Chelsea at Anfield, opening the scoring in a 1-1 draw after getting the better of Tal Ben-Haim. It was the first of seven goals in seven games against Chelsea. It is his best return against any English club.
In the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, Fernando struggled for full fitness and form having undergone surgery in April. As a result, Barcelona's Pedro took his place for a semi-final triumph over Germany.
Coach Vicente Del Bosque also left him out of the starting line-up for the final. Instead he came on in extra-time in the 1-0 win over Holland although he tore a muscle before the end.
Back in England, before joining the Blues midway through 2010/11, Fernando made 26 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 11 times including both goals in Chelsea's November defeat at Anfield.
On moving to Stamford Bridge, he became the first striker to wear the number 9 jersey since Hernan Crespo in the 2005/06 season, but took 14 games before he found the net, a joyously received effort on a sodden Stamford Bridge pitch against West Ham. It remained his only goal for the Blues that season but with a rare summer of recuperation following, hopes are high that 2011/12 will see the Fernando Torres that tormented Chelsea so much when he was wearing red.
Images&Wallpapers:
Fernando Torres
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