The Curious Case Of El Nino By Yash Haldankar

   On 31st January 2011, Chelsea signed a certain quintessential World Cup winning striker Fernando “El Nino” Torres for a sum of £50 million breaking the British Transfer record. The dynamic striker with blistering pace, sublime technique and an eye for spectacular had swapped Merseyside for West London. Torres was signed on a contract of five-and-half years to lead the club from the front to glory and beyond.

Signed by Ancelotti on Deadline Day

      Fast forward two-and-half years and what you get is mediocre overpaid striker with confidence issues. Or is it really? After arriving with much pompous fanfare, the Spaniard took his own time to setting into the Chelsea system by taking 903 minutes to find the back of the net for his first goal in 18 appearances. After the horrendous start to his Chelsea career, his first full campaign in a Chelsea shirt was expected to be better than his first six months. However the effervescent presence of Didier Drogba, an eccentric Sturridge and young Lukaku added to his misery. In 49 appearances he gave a return of 11 goals paving way for another mediocre season even with Chelsea winning the coveted Champions League and FA Cup.

Torres under the shadow of Drogba

      However with new season came new hopes. After a tantalizing display for his national side by winning the Golden Boot as Spain lifted the Euro 2012 cup. The stage was finally set for Torres to prime in Chelsea shirt with Didier Drogba heading to China in search of new pastures, Lukaku sent on a season long loan to West Bromwich Albion, Sturridge being sold to Liverpool and Demba Ba coming in the winter. Torres became the only viable option up front and he did not disappoint. Finally reaching the 20- goal mark in 64 appearances with 22 goals. For once he seemed to be the Fernando Torres he was.

After scoring the decisive against Barcelona

      With Torres it has been a never-ending saga of transfer speculation after mediocre performances since his arrival. Yet both club and player have been swift and vocal enough to drive down speculation regarding Torres being sold even after bids from Athletico Madrid, Arsenal and Barcelona being made. The player has shown commitment to honoring his contract with Chelsea.
      The favorable conditions are set to prevail as Lukaku, even after his spectacular loan spell is yet unproven in Chelsea system and Demba Ba’s inconsistency in finding the back of net since leaving the Toon’s adds to that. Making Torres Chelsea’s No.1 forward at this moment. Torres’ Vantage point is his confidence. On his day, he’s an established defender’s nightmare and often is quite too sublime against even the relegation zone clubs. It is this enervating factor that he has to fight. Which if prevailed upon he is sure to flourish.

Gaining his old prowess

      Throughout his career in a Blues shirt various factors from Didier Drogba’s spectacular form to the pressure of justifying his price tag, from Chelsea’s Managing conundrums to the style of play and philosophy not suiting to his game have been responsible for not realizing his true potential.
      However with the start of new season, Torres will be coming back to London with another Golden Boot won at Confederations Cup, Brazil but a new manager will be there to welcome the 50 million forward, none other than the Special One, Jose Mourinho. This ensures that for good or for bad-This Curious Case of El Nino will be solved with either Torres finding his scoring boots, which commanded the 50 million Chelsea paid to get him or Torres being shipped out with a huge loss. This is the season that will define the legacy of El Nino and brings an end to this curious case. Now as for how it ends, lets just wait and watch.

 (This article is taken from http://www.bbfwl.com/the-curious-case-of-el-nino/ all rights belong to the writer Yash Haldankar)


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