Madrid: Fernando Torres ended his long association with Atletico Madrid scoring twice in his final game for Atletico Madrid against Eibar which ended 2-2 on Sunday.
? | PHOTOS
Pictures that will last a lifetime: #DeNiñoALeyenda
➡ https://t.co/JQJVYzBIY1 pic.twitter.com/CxG1h5lK99— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) May 20, 2018
Captaining a second-string Atletico side playing just four days on from their Europa League final success against Marseille in Lyon, Torres scored in either halves the match at Wanda Metropolitano.
The former Liverpool and Chelsea striker, 34, was given a guard of honour by the visitors before the game.
??You had to say goodbye with a bracel! It was meant to be… ⚽⚽
Thanks for the 1⃣2⃣9⃣ times you’ve made us scream: GOAL!???#AtletiEibar #AúpaAtleti pic.twitter.com/iu0Gi6GPzF— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) May 20, 2018
Kike opened the scoring for Eibar before Torres levelled on 42 minutes, slotting in Angel Correa’s square pass.
Torres then put Atletico in front, collecting former Chelsea player Diego Costa’s through ball and clipping round Eibar keeper Marko Dmitrovic on the hour before his teammate Lucas Hernandez was sent off three minutes later after picking up a second yellow card for obstructing Ivan Alejo.
Eibar quickly made their numerical advantage count, with Ruben Pena hammering in a long-range strike to equalise with 20 minutes remaining.
?⚪? The red and white family paying tribute to Fernando @Torres#DeNiñoALeyenda pic.twitter.com/aoeDRycvhA
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) May 20, 2018
Torres was denied a dream farewell when an offside flag saw another effort ruled out and the striker finished his career for his boyhood club with 128 goals in 404 matches over two spells.
Torres finishes with a record of 129 goals in 404 appearances over two spells, having joined as a youth player in 1995 before leaving for Liverpool in 2007 and returning in 2015 after spells at Chelsea and AC Milan.
Atletico fans posed for photographs next to life-sized cut-outs of Torres outside the ground and displayed a banner reading ‘De Nino A Leyenda’, meaning ‘from a kid to a legend’, in reference to the striker’s nickname of ‘El Nino’.
The story of "El Niño" @Torres ➕@atletienglish = ❤️❤️
Farewell of Torres at Vicente Calderon: BRACE ⚽️⚽️
Farewell of Torres at Wanda @Metropolitano: BRACE ⚽️⚽️#AtletiEibar pic.twitter.com/S4iov2lsZA
— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) May 20, 2018
“I have to thank my grandpa, who gave me the greatest gift anyone can give a kid, which was to make me an Atletico fan,” Torres said during the farewell ceremony. “It was an honor to be able to wear this jersey.”
Nicknamed “El Nino,” Torres joined Atletico at age 11. He had earlier told that he hoped to end his career with the club, but he decided to leave because he wasn’t expected to remain in Diego Simeone’s plans for next season.
The player hasn’t announced where he will be playing next season. It is being reported that he will make a move to Chinese super league.