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Fernando Torres: Spain’s Gift to the English Premier League

Written by Adeleke Afolayan

Monday, 12 May 2008

In every sphere of life; sport, music, education, family, it is difficult to adapt to a sudden change of environment with a burden of expectation upon your shoulders to deliver the goods as soon as possible.

Such was the expectation that came upon 24 year old Spanish international Fernando Torres when he completed his ₤20m move from Atletico Madrid to Liverpool in July 2007.

At Atletico, El Niño as Fernando is also known was a cult figure scoring a total of 75 goals in 176 games in the La Liga for his hometown club that also produced Real Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez among others.

Torres began his career at Atletico in 1995 aged 11 after impressing the club scouts playing at his regional club Rayo 13 but it was not until May 2001 that he made his debut for the club then in the Spanish second division.

His first team career at Atletico had started on the downside for “The Kid” and he scored just six goals as the club gained promotion in 2002. His first season in the Spanish top flight was better though, scoring 13 goals in the 2002/03 season.

The 2003/04 season was a turning point for El Niño as he became the youngest ever captain of Atletico Madrid aged just 19 and led the club to a seventh place finish in La Liga with 19 goals, just missing out on an automatic UEFA Cup place to Sevilla on the final day of that season.

But their finish was good enough for qualification into the Intertoto Cup, Torres’ first taste of European football. Atletico however failed to reach the UEFA Cup after losing in the final of the Intertoto to fellow Spanish side Villarreal.

By then however, he had made his mark in Spanish football and was a member of the Spanish national team to the 2006 World Cup in Germany. After the tournament, Torres admitted turning down a move to Chelsea who were going through the Abramovic revolution then.

With Atletico no where near the top teams in Spain, it was inevitable that he continued to attract interest from England's “Big Four” with Liverpool the most likely destination after his captain’s armband carried a caption identifying with the Anfield club; “Never Walk Alone”.

The arrival of former Manchester United striker Diego Forlán from Villarreal in June 2007 sparked exit talk which materialised few days later with a ₤20m switch to Liverpool.

Unlike most young players who would go on from the smaller teams to the bigger teams of a league, keeping them in the environment they have been used to, Torres made the big move alright but to a different league.

Not just a different league, but a whole different culture as well and the top flight in England, or any of the top leagues in Europe, has been known not to be such a happy hunting ground for foreign strikers.

The list sees quite a number of high profile names like former Arsenal striker Davor Suker who famously spearheaded Croatia’s attack to their 3rd place finish at France ’98 or Ukraine's Andriy Shevchenko who so far left his goals in Milan after his ₤30m move to Chelsea.

Torres has however had a remarkable first season for Liverpool, justifying the big money splashed on him by Rafael Benitez and adapting quickly and successfully to the English game, setting new records at Anfield in the process.

El Niño surpassed the number of goals scored in a debut season (23) in the Premier League, previously held by former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. He also is the first to score in eight consecutive Premier League games at Anfield.

To cap a dream debut season, Torres scored six goals in his first ever appearance in the UEFA Champions League, helping Liverpool to reach the semi-final where they were beaten 3-2 after extra time by Chelsea; the first match the Reds have lost after Torres had scored.

The young Spaniard was also named in the six man shortlists for PFA Player of the Year (won by Cristiano Ronaldo) and PFA Young Player of the Year (won by Francesc Fabregas).

The 6ft 1in. tall play
er also has the unenviable record of scoring all 24 Premier League goals from open play with none coming from the penalty spot.

Apparently, Torres is meant for the big stages as his goals return for Liverpool is much better than was obtained at Atletico. With 33 goals in 45 appearances for the Reds, El Niño is priming himself into an iconic Kop legend.rom Atletico Madrid to Liverpool in the summer of 2007.

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