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Former Liverpool star Fernando Torres is almost unrecognisable from his days of netting goals for the Reds. Once known as El Nino, or 'the kid', Torres has undergone a significant transformation, having bulked up considerably over the past five years.
Torres is most fondly remembered for his spell at Anfield, where he bagged 81 goals in just three-and-a-half years, quickly becoming a Liverpool legend before making a move to Chelsea in 2011.
After hanging up his boots in 2019, with an impressive tally of 263 goals in 768 matches throughout his career, Torres, now aged 41, underwent a dramatic body transformation as he transitioned into coaching at his childhood club, Atletico Madrid.
The former forward left fans gobsmacked when he reappeared on the scene in 2021, following the Covid lockdown, featuring in an Instagram video promoting an Asian casino.
Sporting bulging trapezius muscles, a broad chest and wide back, Torres looked vastly different from the lean, yet powerful, no. 9 that Liverpool supporters were accustomed to.
Although it appears he hasn't maintained the same rigorous gym routine over the years, appearing slightly smaller in stature these days, Torres continues to work out frequently and shares his passion for fitness on his social media channels.
It should come as no surprise that the Spanish star has a love for the gym, given that Torres owns his own chain of gyms named Nine Fitness. The brand was launched in 2013 and since then, he has opened several branches across Madrid.
Despite his acrimonious departure, Torres made his return to Anfield in 2024 for a legends' fixture against Ajax, featuring alongside the likes of Steven Gerrard. The striker found the net, as expected, and his bond with the Kop appeared to have been restored as supporters welcomed him warmly both onto and off the field.
Regarding his switch to Chelsea, Torres insisted he had little alternative but to seek pastures new. He argued that Liverpool were focused on recruiting promising youngsters to secure future prosperity, rather than established stars capable of delivering immediate success.
"They wanted to bring in young players, to build something new," Torres is quoted as saying in 2016's Ring of Fire: Liverpool FC into the 21st Century - The Players' Stories by Simon Hughes. "I was thinking to myself, this takes time to work. It takes two, three, four, maybe even 10 years. I didn't have that time.
"I was 27 years old. I did not have time to wait. I wanted to win. Here we are five years later and they are still trying to build – around the same position in the league as when I left."
Whilst his transfer to Stamford Bridge tarnished Torres' reputation on Merseyside to a degree, the passage of time and the reality that the Spaniard never truly recaptured his peak form at Chelsea have gradually mended relationships.
In 2019, Torres expanded on his enduring affection for Liverpool. He declared: "I'm really proud to say I will support Liverpool forever, it doesn't matter what happened.
"Even when things between us were not at their best, I felt that I needed to support Liverpool. The city, fans and club will always be in my heart because it's the way I feel and I cannot change that."
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