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http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N156273070703-1828.htmLiverpool Football Club has announced Spanish striker Fernando Torres has passed a medical ahead of his proposed move from Atletico Madrid.
The 23-year-old is now expected to officially complete his transfer to Anfield on Wednesday before being unveiled to the media.
A club spokesman said: "The player has passed a medical. All the agreements are now in place and he will put pen to paper on the deal on Wednesday."
The striker has spent the previous 12 years at Atletico Madrid, the club he supported as a boy. The Spanish giants snapped him up at the age of 11 after he netted 55 goals in his first season at amateur side Rayo 13.
Three years after his arrival, Torres was named the best under-14 player in Europe following his performances in the Nike Cup. He signed his first professional contract in 1999 but had to wait until May 27, 2001 to make his debut against Leganes.
Still, at 17 years and 68 days, he was Atletico's youngest ever player. Within a week, he'd scored his first goal in a match against Albacete.
The 2001-02 season saw him net six times in 36 league appearances, helping his side win promotion to La Liga.
Meanwhile, he was still making waves on the international scene.
Torres was top scorer and player of the tournament in the 2001 European Under-16 Championships and 2002 European Under-19 Championships, both of which Spain won.
The frontman bagged 13 goals during his first season in the Spanish top flight, earning him a first under-21 cap for his country.
The 2003-04 campaign proved to be a momentous one for Torres. Not only did he score 19 goals in 35 league appearances, but he was also handed the club captaincy. At 19, he was the youngest skipper in Atletico's long and illustrious history.
On top of all this, the youngster was also called up into the senior Spain squad, making his full debut in a friendly with Portugal on September 6, 2003. The following April he scored his first international goal against Italy. He was then part of the Spain squad which traveled to Euro 2004 in Holland and Belgium.
Torres got his first and only taste of European competition when Atletico entered the Intertoto Cup prior to the 2004-05 campaign. He scored twice in five games but tasted defeat in the final at the hands of Villarreal.
The player nicknamed El Nino (The Kid) because of his youthful appearance was selected for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where he scored three goals.
The following year, in May 2007, Torres hit the headlines when he revealed the words 'You'll Never Walk Alone' on the inside of his captain's armband during a match between Atletico and Real Sociedad.
If he completes his move to Anfield as expected on Wednesday, he'll leave Atletico with a record of 82 goals in 214 league appearances.
And a little more about Torres
The Early Years
Born in the Fuenlabrada neighbourhood of Madrid, traditionally Real Madrid territory, Fernando grew up in the red and white of AtlĂ©tico. From the age of six football became really important to the young Fernando thanks to a TV programme called âOliver and Benjiâ.
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 AtlĂ©tico Madrid. âHe showed intelligence, explosive pace and bravery. He did not think football like a child would,â said Manolo Rangel, the coach who became his mentor.
âTraining was a game, and the matches were fun, that was the part of my life when I most enjoyed playing footballâ 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 AtlĂ©tico 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 AtlĂ©tico Madridâs 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 Spainâs 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 AragonĂ©s, the Spain head coach, said recently that Torres âstill has a poor first touch and doesnât finish well.â 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 âEl Niñoâ (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)
