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...
Everton Interview Fabio Cannavaro For Manager Job
Super Eagles Training Reports – Chelle Hints At...
Youthful Germany Begin 2019 with Draw
Beating Du Plessis more important than title –...
Mikel Obi back in England at Middlesbrough
Murray, Lopez Power into Queen’s Doubles Final
Chukwueze among offensive duel leaders in EPL
U-13 JOF Kids Cup: Quarter-Final Fireworks Set for Easter Sunday
Title talk grows after Itauma’s record-breaking KO
Winners emerge at Ebaretonbofa golf tourney
Chukwu greatest player to wear Eagles jersey – Ikpeba
Nnadozie continues WSL form as Brighton defeat Leicester
Premier League fans back call to scrap VAR
Aruna faces tough draw in ITTF World Cup
Nigeria chase more World Relays tickets in Botswana trials
Itauma vows to change boxing after crushing Franklin
Maiden Eagles call-up shocks Sor
Iwobi gets EPL Player of The Month nomination
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,676 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,996 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,914 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,522 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,446 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,349 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,215 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,751 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,945 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,454 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,855 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,329 views)