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...
Okocha dazzles in Ronaldinho’s legends match
Nigeria Volleyball Federation Release List of Players for...
Hammers to smash £45m club record for Boniface...
Africa Games: Bring Home Only Clean Medals, Buhari...
Ronaldo Scores Twice To Cross 100-Goal Mark For...
Customs clash with Navy in Maritime Cup:

AFCON 2025: Chelle Confesses – I Must Think Carefully To Choose My Next Starting Line-up
The Life of IGP Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo
Sowore consoles Joshua’s team after fatal crash, decries systemic failures
CBS Sports analyst backs Nigeria to win AFCON
Eagles strikers must be clinical – Esin
Eagles seek momentum in final group outing
Super Falcons keeper Nnadozie loses brother
Nigerian-Ugandan Ikpeazu targets win against Eagles
Osimhen, Ademola Lookman risk AFCON ban
AFCON 2025 Nigeria vs Uganda - Cranes' Uche Ikpeazu could be a talon in the Super Eagles' side
Uganda vs. Nigeria: AFCON 2025 Group C finale — Kick-off Time, venue, and where to watch
Aftermath of AFCON Thriller, Tunisian Says: Victor Osimhen is an Absolute Monster!
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,436 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,708 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,617 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,285 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,223 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,141 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (51,987 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,557 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,728 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,256 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,652 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,125 views)