There are suggestions in Spain that Chelsea are still interested in Atletico Madrid metrosexual striker Fernando Torres. That?s an interest to the tune of £25 million. To this has to be added a certain ambiguity about Torres? future from his agent.
Fernando Torres is a lucky bloke: blessed with handsome good looks, and an enviable skill on the ball, including some magnificent first touches. He?s a predatory striker. As a local lad, also, he?s been made the captain of Atlético Madrid, despite being barely 20 years old.
But playing for his boyhood club is also a source of bad luck for the player, as despite Torres? best efforts, Atléti haven?t managed to climb out of the middle of the table and into genuine contention. Still, it?s not all bad: Torres? potential has been noticed by other clubs, many of whom are in the Premiership. We remember that Newcastle were interested (until they settled on Michael Owen). Other clubs said to be monitoring him are Arsenal and Manchester United. And Chelsea, who have been coveting the player for a number of seasons now.
The latest indications in the Spanish press are that Chelsea have tabled an offer of ?37,5 million ? some £25 million. We?d like to give more details, but we don?t have any.
The breakthrough, however, is a certain change in attitude from the player?s entourage. Until now Torres, his agent, and the club?s management have been firm in rejecting any bids, throwing them straight into the waste paper basket, and pointing to a buy-out clause of ?90 million (in a contract until 2008). But now Torres? agent, José Antonio Martín, suggests that he and his client are thinking of leaving the Vicente Calderon.
Asked on a radio programme whether Torres would be staying at Atlético next year, about José Antonio Martín answered with a rather pregnant pause. Then he suggested that it really would be up to his club.
The programme?s presenter jumped on the agent to ask again what that meant, as everyone is used to solid professions of loyalty when it comes to Torres. ?Torres? future depends on Altético. It?s they who will decide?, said the agent. Not helping things at all, he added that ?if we were to rely on Atlético, it wouldn?t happen. But let?s see whether the club thinks the same at the end of the season?. The deafening silence was only broken by the sound of a can of worms being opened and poured onto the floor of the studio.
Asked about this, the Atlético President, Enrico Cerezo said that ?I don?t know what Martín meant by that, but we understand things very clearly: we?re counting on Fernando. He?s very important for Atlético and taking all this out of context would create doubts. I relieve that we won?t have problmes with him?. That?s the least he could say.
Now Torres? agent already suggested, last summer, that he wanted to see Atlético?s ambition before deciding whether Torres would stay. Signing players such as, er, Mateja Kezman apparently convinced the boy wonder to stay. But it has to be said that Atlético really aren?t setting the world on fire. This might be one reason why the striker considers that it?s time to play at a higher level.
In addition, one can point out that this is World Cup year and Torres wants to go with his team. Will the Spanish national manager notice Torres in a team that seems to epitomise mediocrity?
On top of this, there are the offers from the Premiership. Which is why we mention Chelsea?s offer of a cool £25 million. Torres (and Atlético) have always resisted the siren calls from overseas.
The indications that this might be changing are taken seriously in Spain. If Atlético don?t want to sell, there is little that any suitor could do. If they do, obviously, Chelsea would be in a good position (to the tune of £25 million), and Chelsea?s inability to put a lid on Crespo?s future would obviously open a new chapter, particularly since Chelsea have been interested in the youngster for some time.