Burnt-out Torres making Milan move way past his prime

Modern era Brazil legend Ronaldo was 30 when he joined AC Milan after winning major international honours and elite European club competitions elsewhere. He shot to fame as a teenager, and so did Fernando Torres.

Joining the Rossoneri on a two-year loan deal from Chelsea, the Spanish striker’s career resembles that of Ronaldo in several aspects. So much so soon, followed by big money moves to clubs that dined at Europe’s top table and it all took its toll on both their bodies.

That feeling of burnout, here wholeheartedly meant instead of being some business buzzword used by workaholics or hypochondriacs when they’re angling for an extended break, applies to Torres. His example is an archetype for the modern footballer to be wary of.

Between 2007 and 2011, Torres pretty much played football constantly for Liverpool, then Chelsea, and Spain during the summers, which are usually reserved for some form of rest, so the body can recuperate.

A lot is written about how much the modern footballer is paid and their price tags. Fans use their reported weekly pay packets as sticks to beat them with when they don’t score goals, keep clean sheets or fulfil whatever purpose they were signed for.

For all the luxury lifestyle and public figure accountability arguments, there is no arguing with the fact that footballers are people too. Who among us wouldn’t see our performances drop if we worked nonstop for four whole years?

Torres’ Stamford Bridge epitaph will read something like Roman Abramovich’s £50m folly. Andriy Shevchenko can thank the Spaniard for taking attention away from his own Blues eulogy, which reads £30m flop.

Stats do not lie, and a return of just 20 Premier League goals in 110 outings is a far cry from Torres’ Liverpool league form, which is close two netting twice for every three matches played. Performances in Europe in a Blues shirt were markedly better, though.

When Chelsea, then holders, dropped out of the Champions League after the end of the 2012/13 group stage, commitment could have been lacking. The Europa League is seen as something of a B competition in England, but Torres knuckled down and netted six times in nine games, including the final, to bring another European trophy back to west London.