By Daily Sports on August 24, 2019
Spanish World Cup-winning striker Fernando Torres has played his final professional match before retirement.
The former Atletico Madrid, Liverpool and Chelsea forward, 35, finished his career in Japan with Sagan Tosu.
They lost his final game 6-1 to a Vissel Kobe side featuring former team-mates Andres Iniesta and David Villa.
Iniesta wrote Torres an open letter, in which he said “it’s been a wonderful journey, it has taken us to every corner of the world”.
Torres made 110 appearances for Spain and won the World Cup in 2010, as well as the European Championships in 2008 and 2012, scoring in both finals.
“To say goodbye to football next to my dear friend Iniesta is something I could never imagine,” Torres said at the time.
“Also my friend David Villa, with who I share probably the best moments in Spanish football history.
“I tried to find an iconic moment to play my final game and I think that is perfect timing.”
Iniesta and Torres have been friends since they played together for Spain’s youth teams, with Torres writing on a shirt for Iniesta that someday they would “win the World Cup together”.
In a letter published in El Mundo, Iniesta said it was “beautifully strange” that life “brought us all the way to Japan to say goodbye”.
“Football brought us together more than 20 years ago, when we were children. Well, you will always be El Nino. And it will never separate us,” added the former Barcelona midfielder.
“We began away from spotlights and cameras until we came to share thousands of experiences before winning a World Cup for our country.
“When we meet in Spain, I’ll show you that shirt, that treasure that nobody else discovered. Although, it is true, there is no greater treasure than your friendship, Fernando.” (BBC)
•Photo shows striker Fernando Torres with the ball during his days with Atletico Madrid of Spain
Source Daily Sports
Posted August 24, 2019
You may also like...
West Ham Stun Everton At Goodison Park
Joshua splits from second coach in 2022
Suarez Ready To Sign New Barcelona Contract
Sharapova wins first title since 2015
Eagles Star Simon Moses Named Nantes Player Of...
Ndidi Sets Leicester City Target
CAF appoints Moroccan for third-place game
Ogunmokun sets new 500m national record
Disappointed Chelle wants bronze medal
PREVIEW: Nigeria target ninth bronze, clash with Egypt in AFCON third-place showdown
Ndidi praises Osimhen, backs Chelle
_1.jpeg)
AFCON: Why Nigeria lost to Morocco – Super Eagles coach, Chelle
.jpeg)
‘Incompetent Referee’ - Nigerians blast Ghanaian official over Calvin Bassey’s controversial Yellow Card
.jpeg)
Osimhen Explains Super Eagles Defeat To Morocco In AFCON Semi Final
.jpeg)
War in Morocco – An AFCON with a special spin
.jpeg)
Super Eagles Starting XI Versus Morocco Revealed As Chelle Makes One Critical Change
_1.jpeg)
Morocco Coach Sounds Alarm: Nigeria’s Iwobi, Osimhen & Lookman Are Real Threats Ahead of AFCON Semis!
Super Eagles Training Reports – Chelle Hints At Likely Replacement For Suspended Ndidi In Semi Final
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,479 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,763 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,663 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,333 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,259 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,170 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,032 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,590 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,771 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,300 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,688 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,158 views)