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Fernando Torres
Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres is understood to be on his way to Merseyside to undergo a medical before completing a club record £26.5m transfer to Liverpool.

The 23-year-old Spain international is believed to have agreed personal terms worth £90,000 per week in wages, and could be unveiled as a Liverpool player on Wednesday after completing formalities on a six-year contract.


Early Years

Born in the Fuenlabrada neighbourhood of Madrid, traditionally Real Madrid territory, Fernando grew up in the red and white of Atlético. From the age of six football became really important to the young Fernando thanks to a TV programme called ‘Oliver and Benji’.

It was a cartoon series in which a group of boys start playing football for fun, and end up as professionals. After the show Fernando and his elder brother would go out and play football. He liked to imagine himself as a professional footballer like the kids in the series.

He played in goal until one day he got a couple of teeth knocked out by the ball and decided that his career between the sticks was finished.

By the age of nine he was hooked as an Atlético fan after being taken on a trip to the trophy room at the Vicente Calderón stadium by his grandfather.

Later on, as a tall, thin, 11-year-old, he went for a trial at Atlético Madrid. “He showed intelligence, explosive pace and bravery. He did not think football like a child would,” said Manolo Rangel, the coach who became his mentor.

“Training was a game, and the matches were fun, that was the part of my life when I most enjoyed playing football” explained Torres.

He rose through the various youth levels, and in 2001 played for Spain at the under-16 European Championships in England. He finished the tournament as top scorer and was voted player of the tournament. At the time, Newcastle United manager Sir Bobby Robson was apparently informed of Torres' talent by a scout. Robson, however, decided against a move for the Spaniard. Torres quickly proceeded to represent the Atlético youth team and was then called up to the first team.


Rise To Fame

He made his first team debut on May 27th 2001 at El Calderón against Leganes, becoming the youngest player ever to have played for the club. He scored his first goal the following week against Albacete. The season however was to end on a sour note, as Atlético missed out on promotion to the Primera Liga on goal difference. They were promoted the following season.

The 2002-2003 season saw Atlético back in the top division and Fernando made the step up effortlessly. His first season in the top-flight saw him score 13 goals. He put in particularly impressive performances against Deportivo La Coruna and Barcelona to make people sit up and take notice of him. In his second season in the Primera Liga he scored 19 goals and has been Atlético Madrid’s top scorer in every season since.

Such was the reputation he built up, that other clubs started to show an interest in the youngster. Torres has admitted that he turned down the chance to join Chelsea after the end of the 2005-06 season of La Liga.


National Team

In November 2001, Torres played in the Under-17 World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago. In July 2002, he played in the Under-19 European Championships in Norway, a tournament Spain won. Torres was both top scorer and Player of the Tournament. He made his debut for the Under-21 national team in 2003. On September 6, 2003, Torres progressed to make his debut for the senior national team against Portugal. His first goal for Spain came against Italy on April 28, 2004.

He played for Spain at the Euro 2004 Championships, which saw Spain eliminated in the group stages by Portugal and eventual winners Greece.

At his first ever appearance in a World Cup finals at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, Torres scored the final goal in a 4-0 victory over Ukraine with a volley. In the second group match, Torres scored twice against Tunisia, in the 76th minute for Spain to take a 2-1 lead, and then again from a penalty kick in the 90th minute, to complete Spain’s comeback from 1-0 down to 3-1 winners.

In Spain's third group match against Saudi Arabia, he came on as a substitute for José Antonio Reyes in the 70th minute. Torres became the first player in the tournament to score three goals. Torres started the round of 16 match against France, but after initially taking the lead, Spain went on to lose 3-1 and were knocked out of the tournament.

The Spanish national team coach, Luis Aragonés, commented that Torres "never scores two goals the same," referring to his versatility and remarkable keenness on the pitch.

Torres was dropped from the team for a friendly versus Romania in November 2006, but returned to the national side for the friendly against England in February 2007, a 1-0 win for Spain.


Technical Skills

Torres is a quick, skilful, powerful centre forward, who is unlike most Spanish strikers. He is often compared to Nicolas Anelka and Thierry Henry. Above all he is a goal scorer. He can lead the attack on his own, but is also adept at working with a partner. He is good in the air and scores goals from many areas.

However, Luis Aragonés, the Spain head coach, said recently that Torres “still has a poor first touch and doesn’t finish well.” Despite fitting the profile other major clubs are looking for, he has often been second on many lists of potential targets for major European clubs.

But Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has been determined I his pursuit of the player this summer.


Did You Know?

Torres is nicknamed ‘El Niño’ (The Kid) because of his youthful face.
He is the youngest player to have captained Atlético Madrid (aged 19).


Particulars

Name: Fernando José Torres Sanz
Date of birth: 20th March 1984 (Madrid)
Nationality: Spanish
Height: 1.86m
Weight: 78kg
Position: Striker


Season-by-Season Club Career: League Appearances (& Goals)

2002-2003 Atlético Madrid 29 (13)
2003-2004 Atlético Madrid 35 (19)
2004-2005 Atlético Madrid 38 (16)
2005-2006 Atlético Madrid 36 (13)
2006-2007 Atlético Madrid 35 (14)


Mathew Burt

source: goal.com