Fernando Torres

Fernando Jos Torres Sanz (born 20 March 1984), nicknamed El Nio (The Kid in Spanish), is a Spanish footballer who plays as a striker for helsea and the Spain national team! "orres started his career with #tl$tico Madrid, pro%ressin% thro&%h their yo&th system to the first team s'&ad! (e made his first team deb&t in 2001 and finished his time at the cl&b ha)in% scored *+ %oals in 1*4 ,a ,i%a appearances! -rior to his ,a ,i%a deb&t, "orres played two seasons in the Se%&nda .i)isi/n for #tl$tico Madrid, makin% 40 appearances and scorin% se)en %oals! (e 0oined -remier ,ea%&e cl&b ,i)erpool in 200*, after si%nin% for a cl&b record transfer fee! (e marked his first season at #nfield by bein% ,i)erpool1s first player since 2obbie 3owler in the 199+495 season to score more than 20 lea%&e %oals in a season! "orres became the fastest player in ,i)erpool history to score +0 lea%&e %oals! (e left the cl&b in 6an&ary 2011 to 0oin helsea for a record 7ritish transfer fee of 8+0 million, which made him the most e9pensi)e Spanish player in history! :n his first f&ll season at helsea, he helped the cl&b win the 3# &p and the ;<3# hampions ,ea%&e! "orres is a Spanish international and made his deb&t a%ainst -ort&%al in 200=! (e has since participated in fi)e ma0or to&rnaments> ;<3# <&ro 2004, the 2005 3:3# ?orld &p, ;<3# <&ro 2008, the 2010 3:3# ?orld &p and ;<3# <&ro 2012! "orres did not score at <&ro 2004, b&t netted three at the 2005 ?orld &p! (e scored twice at ;<3# <&ro 2008, incl&din% the winnin% %oal for Spain in their 140 win o)er @ermany in the final! (e went on to win the 2010 ?orld &p and <&ro 2012 with Spain, scorin% no %oals in the former, and scorin% three %oals in the latter to win the @olden 7oot, as part of the historic Spain side which won three consec&ti)e ma0or to&rnaments!

Early career 7orn in 3&enlabrada, omm&nity of Madrid, "orres became interested in football as a child and 0oined his first team, -ar'&e 84, at the a%e of fi)e! (is father 6os$ "orres worked d&rin% "orres1 childhood, and his mother 3lori SanA tra)elled daily with him to trainin% sessions! (is %randfather was not a passionate football fan, b&t took pride in bein% an #tl$tico Madrid s&pporter, and "orres inherited his lo)e for the cl&b! "orres started playin% football as a %oalkeeper, the position his brother played in! ?hen he was se)en years old, howe)er, he started playin% re%&larly as a striker in an indoor lea%&e for the nei%hbo&rhood cl&b, Mario1s (olland, &sin% the characters from the anime aptain "s&basa as inspiration! "hree years later, a%ed 10, he pro%ressed to an 11Bside team, 2ayo 1=! (e scored ++ %oals in a season and was one of three 2ayo 1= players to earn a trial with #tl$tico! (e impressed the sco&ts and 0oined the cl&b1s yo&th system at the a%e of 11 in 199+!