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Football

20th May 2018

Fernando Torres scores two goals in his final match for Atlético Madrid

James Dawson

A fairytale ending for the club legend

El Nino bagged himself the perfect ending to his time with the club he joined at just 11-years-old with a brace against Eiba in the last game of the season.

It comes after he picked up his final trophy with the club following coming on as a late substitute in Atlético Madrid’s 3-0 Europa League win over Marseille in Lyon midweek. Torres also wore the captain’s armband in today’s game.

The 34-year-old bagged his first after a breakaway just before halftime, then after the restart he got past two defenders and sent the ball beyond the goalkeeper in the 60th minute. The two goals brought his goal-tally for Atlético in all competitions to 128.

The game finished  2-2 after Lucas Hernandez was sent off for a second bookable offence, meaning Torres’ club were forced to play the end of the game with ten men. The result means they finished 2nd in La Liga behind Barcelona, but ahead of hometown rivals Real Madrid.

It’s not yet know where Torres will end up after his stint with Atlético with America and the Chinese league options for end-of-career paydays, however, his old boss Rafa Benitez has also confirmed his interest in bringing to player to Newcastle.

“I think it will be harder for him to come [to Newcastle], not because we don’t want to [sign him],” the 58-year-old told MARCA.

“I don’t know what’s going on in his head, but maybe he is thinking about something else.

“It would be appealing, but I don’t think it would be easy.

“In Liverpool he was sensational. Then we went to Chelsea and, although he had a bad time when he arrived, he was essential for us in winning the Europa League.”

Rafa doesn’t sound optimistic, but stranger things have happened.