Oh Fernando. For £50 million, this once-British record signing must surely go down as the worst signing in Premier League history. For a club to spend that kind of money on a striker, they would surely be expecting at the minimum a strike rate of 1 in 2. The former Liverpool hit-mans pitiful return at Stamford Bridge was closer to 1 in 5, registering just 45 goals in 172 appearances over five seasons. It was a far cry from the menace that destroyed European defences wearing the red of Liverpool and Spain in the past. For a 30 year old to have played 110 times and registered 38 goals for his country is impressive in itself, but when one looks at the success he has enjoyed, it is truly remarkable. Indeed, for his country, not many can rival Torres trophy haul. Between the years of 2008 and 2012, Spain were winning every tournament in sight and the former Athletico Madrid prodigy was there to collect his medal every time, scoring in the finals of both Euro 2008 and Euro 2012. It all began in September 2003 when the Athletico youngster made his debut as a jet-heeled 19 year old, and he would go on to make appearances in Euro 2004 before top-scoring for the Spanish during the qualification for the 2006 World Cup. In Germany, he finished as the countrys top-scorer alongside David Villa with three goals - it would prove to be the last tournament he didnt win for quite a while. Euro 2008 provided Torres with arguably his finest moment in a Spanish shirt, as the continents most in-form centre-forward raced clear to dink home the winning goal in the final against the Germans, to end the nations trophy drought. While his performances came under criticism in the World Cup in South Africa, he still picked up another winners medal and the Spanish substitute managed to claim the Golden Boot during Euro 2012, following a brace against the Irish and a goal in the 4-0 drubbing of the Italians in the final. All in all, his international career has been something of a sweet relief for him when things have not been looking so bright at domestic level. So that's a wrap - what do you think? As always, feel free to leave your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
