Fernando Torres this week confirmed that he will once again leave Atletico Madrid at the end of the season and his former Liverpool teammate Peter Crouch has paid brilliant tribute to the Spaniard.
On Monday Torres confirmed that this would be his last season with Atletico Madrid, the team he supported as and has been with since he was a kid. By the end of the week that had become bad news for Arsenal.
Speaking earlier in the week at a press conference the World Cup winner said, "This is going to be my last season at the club. It hasn't been an easy decision and it has been tough to make, but I feel obliged to tell the fans."
Advert
Will Torres make the best Spanish Premier League XI:
The 34 year old has played in 20 games in La Liga this season but 17 of those have been from the subs bench. He'll now be hoping for a last hurrah in the Europa League final, if Atleti can get past the Gunners in the semi.
Writing in his Daily Mail column former Liverpool fellow striker Peter Crouch paid tribute to Torres and talked about how his signing ended the big man's time at Anfield, saying:
Advert
"It was a shame to learn this week that Fernando Torres will not get to end his career with Atletico Madrid. He will leave his boyhood team for the second time when his contract ends this summer.
"The first time he left Atletico back in 2007 he effectively ended my career at Liverpool. What a player he was back then. The one season we were together, he blew everyone away with his pace, strength and finishing ability. He scored 33 goals, including 24 in the Premier League.
"Fernando was not a typical Spanish player and did not stand out with his technical ability. He was more like an English centre forward, aggressive and direct, but his finishing was ruthless.
"I would have loved to have formed a significant partnership with him. We did well in the games we played together - a Champions League win over Arsenal stands out.
Advert
"But as it was, Rafa Benitez paired him with Steven Gerrard. They were unplayable at times and it made me realise my opportunities would be limited if I stayed on Merseyside.
"He was one of the best in the world and I was shocked by what happened when he moved to Chelsea in 2011. The player I saw struggling for confidence at Stamford Bridge did not resemble the one I worked alongside."
Having scored 72 goals in his first three seasons in England the Spaniards form had dropped off by the time he moved from Liverpool to Chelsea and he never recaptured it at Stamford Bridge or when he moved to Milan after.
Advert
Diego Simeone did manage to get more out of him when he returned to Atleti, first on loan, although he never reached the heights of his early career.
Who knows what will come next for Torres but he's had a hell of a career nevertheless.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Liverpool, Football News, Peter Crouch, Atletico Madrid, Fernando Torres, Spain