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...
SWAN President applauds FIFA President’s visit to Nigeria...
Batshuayi Hails Besiktas Move As An ‘Incredible Opportunity’...
Djokovic 'expects fireworks' against Rune
Arsenal initiate contact with Osimhen over potential summer...
Willian says there is 'no chance' he would...
Nwora To Compete For Nigeria’s FIBA World Cup...
Katsina United clarifies Ozor’s death report
SWAN Congratulates New Anambra CP Ama On Assumption Of Duty
SWAN congratulates New Anambra CP Ama on assumption of duty
Katsina United reject claims that dead player regained consciousness at mortuary
C’wealth Games gold medallist returns to McDonald’s job
National U-15 t’tennis tournament begins
Oshoala rallies fans ahead crunch South Africa clash
_6.jpg)
Why Gusau And The Present NFF Board Must Go! (PART 2)
Madugu hints at rotation after Nnadozie errors
Oyo players shine at 10th AGWF Basketball Combine
Oyo players shine at 10th AGWF Basketball Combine
Burkina Faso beat Nigeria to U-20 AFCON ticket
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (64,020 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,371 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,268 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,868 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,750 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,625 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,516 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (52,027 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,240 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,707 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,196 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,577 views)