appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Agence France-Presse

Former Spain World Cup winner Fernando Torres has signed for Japan’s Sagan Tosu, the J.League club said on Tuesday.
The former Liverpool, Chelsea and Spain striker left Atletico Madrid this summer after returning to his boyhood club in 2015.
Details of the move were not disclosed but the 34-year-old Torres has reportedly joined the relegation-threatened Japanese club on an 18-month contract.
Sagan, based on the western Japanese island of Kyushu and currently languishing second from bottom in the J.League top flight, confirmed Torres will wear the number nine shirt.
The club posted a photo of Torres with club president Minoru Takehara waving a banner which read “Not fake news!”

DONE DEAL: Fernando Torres has confirmed he will join J. League club Sagan Tosu. pic.twitter.com/yawW13rQ1K
— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) July 10, 2018

Embarrassed J.League officials were forced to issue an apology in May after jumping the gun on Sagan’s acquisition of the player in a post that was quickly deleted.
Torres’ decision to join Sagan comes after fellow Spaniard Andres Iniesta signed for J.League rivals Vissel Kobe before the World Cup.
Dubbed “El Nino” by Spanish media and fans, Torres had also been linked to Australian club Sydney FC and Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire.
Iniesta’s move arguably represented Japanese football’s biggest transfer coup, with many top players now moving to cash-rich Chinese clubs in the twilight of their careers.
It also came as a timely boost to the J.League, which used to attract luminaries such as Brazilian great Zico and former England star Gary Lineker when it began in 1993 but has struggled to get marquee players in recent years.

A World Cup and European championship winner with Spain, Torres made his final appearance for Atletico as a late substitute in Madrid’s Europa League final win over Marseille.
The Spaniard scored 126 goals in 314 matches in an eight-year spell in England, his best years coming at Liverpool where he netted 81 times in 142 games to become an Anfield hero.
Barcelona star Andres Iniesta picks J.League move as he heads to ‘new home’ Japan
“We had offers from every continent – from France, Germany and even Spain,” Torres said at a media event at a gym he owns in Madrid.
“But at no point did I think about moving to another European team. I wanted a new challenge in a completely different place.”
Takehara added: “It is an honour to welcome the Spanish prodigy to Tosu. With hard work and continued effort, we are trying to turn a little Asian team into a world player. It will be fun for the Japanese fans to see Torres turn out.”


Jose Mourinho agrees to return as Real Madrid boss after 13 years away: reports

Real Madrid football’s biggest earners, Liverpool top in EPL despite mediocre seasons

La Liga cancels plans for Barcelona v Villarreal clash in Miami, cites uncertainty in Spain

Uefa ‘reluctantly’ approves La Liga, Serie A matches overseas

Spanish La Liga

World Cup winner Fernando Torres joins Andres Iniesta in Japan’s J.League – ‘not fake news’

Fernando Torres is bound for Japan. Photo: AFP

FILE - In this May 16, 2018 file photo, Atletico's Fernando Torres celebrates, surrounded by fans, the 3-0 win of his team after the Europa League Final soccer match between Marseille and Atletico Madrid at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France. Former Spain striker Fernando Torres announced on Tuesday July 10, 2018 that he will play for Sagan Tosu in the J1 League, dashing the hopes of Australian football that he might become a marquee attraction for its struggling A-League. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)

Sport

Football

The former Atletico Madrid striker signs for relegation-threatened Sagan Tosu, saying he wants a new challenge in a completely different place


World Cup winner Fernando Torres joins Andres Iniesta in Japan’s J.League – ‘not fake news’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The former Atletico Madrid striker signs for relegation-threatened Sagan Tosu, saying he wants a new challenge in a completely different place

The former Atletico Madrid striker signs for relegation-threatened Sagan Tosu, saying he wants a new challenge in a completely different place