| |
|
| Wednesday 12 March, 2008 |
| Blog: Milan's Torres loss |
| Fernando Torres left Milan, rather than Inter, red faced in the Champions League. Antonio Labbate explains why |
 |
 |
|
Despite Inter’s Champions League exit, there must surely have been more than an ounce of regret amongst the Milanista faction of Italian society on Tuesday night. Sure, their eternal rivals had been dumped out of Europe yet again, but it was the fact that Fernando Torres played such a key role in Liverpool’s 3-0 aggregate win which should see certain questions being asked of the Diavolo hierarchy.
It’s no secret that El Nino was a player who Milan had seriously looked at in the past. The story goes that Rossoneri stalwart Demetrio Albertini first alerted the San Siro giants to Torres in 2002 after his own switch to the youngster’s previous club, Atletico Madrid. The Spaniard was just a kid at the time, 18 to be exact, but Albertini had played alongside enough talent throughout his career to spot a star in the making.
The former Italian international, despite being rudely shown the door by a club he adored, suggested that Torres would be an excellent investment for the future. However, Milan failed to make a concrete move. Even during transfer negotiations between the two clubs over other players, Torres never arrived at San Siro. It looks to be a costly mistake.
Torres joined Liverpool last summer for £21.5m. Big money? No, a snip really when you consider that Milan handed over £15m plus the £3m-rated Johann Vogel to Real Betis for Ricardo Oliveira in 2006. While the latter is back in Spain with Real Zaragoza, Fernando is delivering goals and performances which turn good players into great ones.
In the two clashes against Inter, Torres left his mark. He got Marco Materazzi sent off in the first leg and then struck the killer blow at San Siro in the return. And while Milan’s own Champions League campaign came to a lacklustre ending against Arsenal last week, Torres’ European Cup adventure continues.
The Rossoneri have clearly invested wisely in the past by gambling on Kaka and, in all probability, Alexandre Pato, but there must surely be a touch of remorse about the one who got away. To some fans, Torres’ goal against the Nerazzurri will still make him a Rossoneri idol. The problem is that he became one wearing the red of Liverpool rather than their own mythical jersey.
|
|
|
|
|
Nonsense. Torres, in Italy, would struggle like Jose Mari did. Torres needs the Spanish link, and with Benitez as Coach, he is flourishing. Milan have made some recruiting errors in recent years, but not acquiring Torres is a smart move by the Rossoneri.
Andrew Faoro
Your argument is mute. You can argue that for every player that was not signed by any of the big clubs.
Luigi
I do remember constantly reading the Milan links with Torres, but not being a regular viewer of La Liga at the time I didn’t really have a good idea of what type of player he was. Although it is impossible to say with any certainty that he would have been a good signing, I don’t think Ancelotti would have any problem throwing him into the mix right now if that was possible.
Liam Royal
Well said Antonio Labbate. For me, last night was a chance to see two of the greatest strikers on the planet against each other. While Zlatan once again forgot to turn up to the big game, Fernando struck a brilliant goal, out of virtually nothing. Imagine Kaka and Pato playing supporting roles to him...
Andrew Faoro, firstly, what makes you think he would struggle in Italy? He didn't struggle too much last night against easily the most formidable defence in the peninsula – albeit a slightly depleted one, admittedly. And secondly, you didn't just compare Torres to Jose Mari did you?!
Ross
We chased Torres for many years. We offered him Milano, the respect and stature of our club. Money, more than he would have been earning at Atletico. But he always chose to stay with his home team. He was captain at 19 or 20. He always stated that he wanted to achieve something with Atletico, which is why he stayed with them for so long. He saw the President try and build teams that would support their star, but to no avail. He wanted Champions League football.
When Liverpool signed Torres, I was incredibly annoyed. How could we not convince him to join the Rossoneri? Why didn't we sign him up on a pre-contract? Why didn't we try again? And again?
Torres is the Kaka of the Premier League. A total of 26 goals in all competitions is an unbelievable return for a non-English player in their first season in the Prem. Sure, Van Nistelrooy did it, but so many haven't come close. Drogba, Weah, Zola, Shevchenko, Tevez, Jardel, Robbie Keane, Davor Suker, Vialli… You could list names for the rest of your life. Would Torres have been a success at Milan? Of course.
Sebastien, Melbourne, Australia
|
|
| |
| |
