Question marks remain over which is the most entertaining
league in Europe. Do the recent acquisitions of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka
combined with the brilliance of Lionel Messi make La Liga the best, based on competitiveness,
or does the sheer unpredictability of the Barclay’s Premier League sway the
argument in favour of England?
One man to experience the highs and lows of both leagues is
Fernando Torres, the returning number nine.
El Nino first caught our attention when he was handed the
captains armband at just 19 whilst at Atletico Madrid. This slim frontman with
obvious potential went from strength to strength in each of his seasons in Spain.
Leading the line of attack, Torres went on to score 75 goals for Atletico.
To this day, Torres remains a fan of his first club,
continuously following their progression. How fitting is it then that just as
the forward is beginning to find his form, he will face Atletico in the UEFA
Super Cup final at the end of this month. Due to his erratic spell at Chelsea, it
is impossible to predict how he will respond in Monaco. Will he celebrate if he
scores against his beloved home team? Will he score at all?
Before arriving in London, Torres spent four successful years
in Merseyside with Liverpool. Some say that it was whilst wearing red, that
Torres produced his best form. With his first English club the number nine
scored almost a goal every three games. The first being against who else but
Chelsea.
Refusing to feel the wrath of Torres again, Chelsea owner
Roman Abramovic reached deep into his Armani shuit pockets to land the striker
for £50m. Finally the Russian had landed his long term target, having
previously attempted to prise the Spaniard whilst at Atletico.
However, the large price tag has weighed heavily on the
shoulders of Torres and he has struggled to recapture the form which made him
the most feared forward in England. His impact at international level was also affected.
In 2008 Torres scored the winning goal in the European Championship final, yet
two years later he found himself watching Spain from the substitute’s bench
during the World Cup final.
Admirably, as difficult as it has been finding the back of
the net, Torres refused to let his effort wane. Continuously driven by his determination,
he is beginning to prove his doubters wrong. A goal in this summers European
Championship final, where Spain were again victorious, and two goals in the first
three club games of the season has seen his confidence return, assisted with
that hugely popular boyish grin. El Nino is back and hungry for goals.
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