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...
FA hopeful of allowing Chelsea fans to buy...
Enyimba were better than us —Edo
Maguire To Remain Man Utd Captain Despite Court...
Ronaldo named UEFA best player
BREAKING: Arsenal are 2017 FA Cup champions!
Chukwueze doubtful for Eagles W’Cup qualifiers
Ex-Milan legend Baresi dies at 66
Morocco edge Algeria to book WAFCON quarter-final spot
Asian football confederation joins UEFA, CONCACAF in opposing FIFA investment plan
Okocha, Portable set for chaos in the ring clash today
Malawi loss wake-up call – Madugu
We’ll come back against Zambia – Okoronkwo
Six Okpekpe athletes earn N8m windfall
Amusan begins bid for third Commonwealth title
UEFA calls emergency meeting over FIFA investment plans
My time with Brazil is over, Neymar retires from international football
NSC promises Falcons $5k per goal
We want to make history again – Okoronkwo
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,993 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,345 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,246 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,845 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,726 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,598 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,491 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (52,002 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,219 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,686 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,171 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,554 views)