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Not long ago, Spanish fans were complaining that after Raul, the country had not seen productive forwards for a long time who could later become world-class stars. But now Spaniards can be calm: the player we are talking about has all the chances not only to replicate Raul's path, but also to surpass it much faster.
In Spain, there is an unwritten rule: the captain's armband is worn by the player who has played the most matches for the club. The only exception is Real Madrid, whose captain is twenty-year-old Fernando Torres. On the other hand, if you pay attention, he joined the club at the age of 11, so this exception obeys the rule.
Before coming to "Atletico", Fernando spent only a year in professional football, playing for the children's team "Rayo 13" from Fuenlabrada - one of the suburbs of Madrid. Even earlier, he played indoor football, already impressing adults with his attacking abilities. Suffice it to say that out of 200 children who attended the "Atletico" tryouts, only two were accepted, one of whom was Fernando Torres. The coaches who examined him were so amazed that they wrote "12" in his evaluation score.
From that moment on, his journey in the Madrid club began, where he climbed all the hierarchy steps until he became a recognized leader of the team. Every matchday, at seven in the morning, he would take the bus to Madrid with his mother, who promised her son that she would object to football training only when he says "enough".
The first time Torres began to be talked about loudly was during the European Youth (U16) Football Championship. Then, he became the continent champion with his team and the top scorer of the tournament, as well as being recognized as the best in these championships. Just a few days later, his debut for "Atletico" took place on May 27, 2001. And within a week, "El Nino" ("The Kid"), as he was called by more experienced teammates, scored a goal in away matches against the goalkeeper of "Albacete", opening his scoring account playing for the "red-white-and-blues". This achievement was inspired by none other than Spain's heir to the throne, Prince Felipe, who, like the entire royal family, is an "Atletico" fan. Equally symbolic is the fact that in that match, "El Nino" replaced not just anyone, but his childhood "idol" Kiko.
It only took four matches for the Spanish superclubs to take notice of Torres as another "star". The first to show interest was , who seemed not to be disappointed with the Spaniards after the fruitless and Jose Mari internships. In Italy, Torres had already been dubbed the "golden boy" and compared to Marco van Basten, which in itself is a recognition of his skill.
The young Spanish talent was also sought after by the world's top football, wanting to carry out a renewal of the team, seeing Torres as a key element in that renewal. Manchester United's head coach Sir Alex Ferguson personally demanded the acquisition of Fernando Torres, whom he had been watching since the U16 championship, held in England.
Fernando Torres was also recognized by global advertising agencies, who had long been inviting stars like Figo, Zidane, Beckham, Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos... Together with the last three, he made his debut in a video where the action takes place in the Middle Ages. Among the young footballers, he was joined by Dutchman van der Vaart and Brazilian Diego.
Everyone who has seen Fernando Torres play mentions the richness of his attacking arsenal. "El Nino" can deceive the opponent, often several times in a row, using both speed and technique. Additionally, he does not wait in the opponent's penalty area like Ronaldo, but constantly moves to create opportunities and participates in the team's actions. Among his strengths are also his good heading game and right foot, as well as a sharp sense of scoring and the ability to fight for the ball with defenders.
Recently, the World's No.1 Football Billionaire Roman Abramovich joined the ranks of those eager to acquire Fernando Torres. The owner had several conversations with the "Atletico" management, offering to buy the young talent, each time proposing an increasingly larger sum. The last offer was 54 million euros, 36 million right away, and the remainder in "natura", meaning players. But the response from Madrid was always the same: "El Nino" is not for sale at any price.
In general, the player himself, who recently extended his contract with the Madrid club until 2008, is not eager to change his club colors. His plans include winning European trophies, a successful performance in the European Championship, where he will most likely go as a key player, and comprehensive help for his club to become the Spanish champion. The last time this happened was in 1996.
He will only leave "Atletico" if the club management desperately needs money, and there is no other way to earn it than to sell their main star. Former head coach Luis Aragonés once mentioned that it would be good to strengthen other lines of the team at the cost of selling the team's attacking leader. As a result, Aragonés incurred the displeasure of the Gil family, who still own "Atletico", and was forced to submit his resignation letter. But Fernando Torres remained. He remained to provide joy and hope to his fans with his talent, hoping that the third most titled Spanish club will revive.
