The spanish striker is feeling authoritative again at Atletico after several seasons struggling — and this new rent on liveliness could deliver a first trophy together for player and club.

When Torres returned to his boyhood club in 2014, it looked like the last throw of the dice in a career that had promised so much but declined dramatically following a move to Chelsea in 2011 and a fruitless spell on loan at AC Milan.

Diego Simeone fought hard to bring back his former teammate and eyebrows were raised as Atleti sought to re-create former glories with the loan signing of their prodigal son. Torres, El Niño, had been an icon for the Madrid side at an unsuccessful period in the club’s history. Now seemingly some way past the peak of his powers, would he really be of use in a side enjoying spectacular success under Simeone?

It has taken time. The striker’s second spell started with a bang as he netted twice to knock fierce rival Real Madrid out of the Copa del Rey, but Atletico was way below its level of the previous campaign and was unable to win a trophy at the end of the 2014-15 campaigh (which Fernando finished with six strikes from 26 appearances).


The dark days are over for Fernando Torres. Back at Atletico Madrid, the spanish hitter took time to adapt again, but he has overcome the confidence and psychological problems that have blighted his performances over the past few years. And his career is on track once again.When Torres returned to his boyhood club in 2014, it looked like the last hold of the dice in a career that had promised so much but declined dramatically following a move to Chelsea in 2011 and a bootless while on loan at AC Milan.Diego Simeone fight hard to bring back his former teammate and eyebrows were raised as Atleti sought to re-create former glories with the loanword bless of their extravagant son. Torres, El Niño, had been an icon for the Madrid side at an abortive period in the baseball club ‘s history. now apparently some room past the vertex of his powers, would he truly be of function in a side enjoying spectacular achiever under Simeone ? It has taken meter. The hitter ‘s second spell started with a spang as he netted doubly to knock boisterous rival Real Madrid out of the Copa del Rey, but Atletico was room below its level of the previous campaign and was unable to win a trophy at the end of the 2014-15 campaigh ( which Fernando finished with six strikes from 26 appearances ). After scoring early this season against Barcelona in a 2-1 home kill and then at home to Eibar, he had to wait more than four months for his future strike — his hundredth for Atletico — which came in an off win against the Basque english.

On the sidelines, Simeone celebrated that goal with fantastic enthusiasm. It distinctly meant much to both the coach and the player himself — and the shirt he wore that night in February is now proudly on display in the club ‘s museum inside the Vicente Calderon.

After waiting all that fourth dimension, Torres then struck in the very first minute of the adjacent match, a 1-0 gain at Getafe, and again at Valencia in early May. And the forth ‘s new-found form has since seen him score in five straight games for the first time in his stallion career : versus Betis, Barcelona in the Champions League, Espanyol, Granada and Athletic Bilbao.

His goal at Camp Nou was tainted as he was sent off later in the first gear half, leaving Atleti with 10 men after 35 minutes in what had been a enormously promising beginning to the series. But Simeone ‘s slope kept the scoreline gloomy to a 2-1 loss and prevailed with a 2-0 win in the return match.

So the opportunity of a first trophy at Atleti is very much alive for Fernando at Atleti with the Rojiblancos in the race for La Liga (level on ponts with Barca but behind because of the head-to-head) and also the Champions League as they prepare to face Bayern Munich in the semifinal first leg Wednesday.

“I’m not interested in listenting to offers,” Torres said in March. “My future is winning at Atletico. It’s something I still haven’t done.”

Following the departure of disappointing summer signing Jackson Martinez to China in the winter window, Torres’ importance at Atletico has grown. The striker has developed an excellent understanding with midfielder Koke and also Antoine Griezmann in attack — and he has earned his place back in the starting XI for his boyhood club.

After netting the only goal in the 1-0 win at Athletic recently, Torres spoke of how confidence is growing at Atletico. And it is also apparent how his own confidence has been restored after several seasons struggling in the Premier League and in Italy before an uncertain start back in Spain.

Fernando feels at home when he is playing for Atletico. Buoyed by the warmth and the love of a set of supporters who idolize him, the striker remains the biggest idol at the club — along with Simeone — and is forgiven for missing chances and playing poorly. Because he is one of them — and because he always gives everything for the team.

Such support is hard to find and it has helped Torres to put his past problems behind him, while Simeone has also played a huge part. The Argentine is much more than a coach for Fernando: he is a former teammate, a friend and a mentor — somebody who knows and understands both the player and the club. And after a slow start, he has coaxed the old player out of his shell.

So while the former Liverpool striker may have lost some pace due to injuries and his age (32), he is back on form and that is thanks to the warmth and love of the fans at Atleti, plus the help and the motivation of Simeone.

All of that could yet earn Torres a permanent transfer to Atletico when his loan expires in the summer, a place at Euro 2016 with Spain and perhaps even a major trophy with the Rojiblancos. And after a difficult few seasons for Fernando, that really would be quite the happy ending for everyone at the club and especially for the player himself.
So the opportunity of a first base trophy at Atleti is very much alive for Fernando at Atleti with the Rojiblancos in the race for La Liga ( horizontal surface on ponts with Barca but behind because of the tete-a-tete ) and besides the Champions League as they prepare to face Bayern Munich in the semifinal first stage Wednesday. “ I ‘m not concern in listenting to offers, ” Torres said in March. “ My future is winning at Atletico. It ‘s something I calm have n’t done. “ Following the deviation of disappoint summer signing Jackson Martinez to China in the winter window, Torres ‘ importance at Atletico has grown. The striker has developed an excellent understand with midfielder Koke and besides Antoine Griezmann in attack — and he has earned his place back in the start eleven for his boyhood club.After netting the only finish in the 1-0 succeed at Athletic recently, Torres spoke of how confidence is growing at Atletico. And it is besides apparent how his own confidence has been restored after several seasons struggling in the Premier League and in Italy before an changeable begin back in Spain.Fernando feels at home when he is playing for Atletico. Buoyed by the warmheartedness and the sexual love of a set of supporters who idolize him, the striker remains the biggest idol at the clubhouse — along with Simeone — and is forgiven for missing chances and playing ailing. Because he is one of them — and because he constantly gives everything for the team.Such subscribe is hard to find and it has helped Torres to put his past problems behind him, while Simeone has besides played a huge function. The Argentine is much more than a coach for Fernando : he is a former teammate, a friend and a mentor — person who knows and understands both the player and the club. And after a dense start, he has coaxed the old player out of his shell.So while the early Liverpool striker may have lost some pace due to injuries and his long time ( 32 ), he is back on form and that is thanks to the affectionateness and love of the fans at Atleti, plus the aid and the motivation of Simeone.All of that could yet earn Torres a permanent wave transfer to Atletico when his lend expires in the summer, a place at Euro 2016 with Spain and possibly tied a major trophy with the Rojiblancos. And after a unmanageable few seasons for Fernando, that truly would be quite the happy ending for everyone at the club and particularly for the player himself.