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...
Coach Lament as MFM, Rangers Share Spoil +...
Mourinho: I won't be the Special One if...
NWFL mourns Dalung’s wife
Osimhen, De Laurentiis rift sparks transfer hope for...
STAR INTERVIEW: Olympic legend Chioma Ajunwa rues her...
Roberto Carlos due in Nigeria for Real Madrid...
NPFL: Ikorodu City take early lead after opening-day win
D’Tigers crush Cape Verde 100-84, revive World Cup hopes
Djokovic crashes out of US Open first round
Amusan claims Grand Prix Brescia win ahead DL final
D’Tigers suffer second-straight loss as W’Cup hopes fade
I just want to make impact – Arokodare
Ucheibe joins Oshoala at Al Hilal
Thunder Balogun died day I was to meet him – Odegbami
Ikpeme, Abdulrahaman take charge of NFF, NPFL
Warren likens Itauma to Messi, Woods
D’Tigers fall 78-62 against Cameroon in W’Cup qualifiers
Gusau resignation: N12bn NFF intervention fund probe ongoing, says EFCC
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (64,060 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,417 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,303 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,905 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,784 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,659 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,567 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (52,078 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,267 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,744 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,227 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,614 views)