5) Big-fee pressure
Above all, the huge pressure of the £50m price tag on his shoulders will have been playing on Torres’ mind throughout all his difficult games with Chelsea. The nature of the modern game means that expectation and reminder cannot be shaken off, and although fitness, managerial changes and tactical systems may have legitimately worked against Torres and prevented him finding his best form, there is the feeling among fans that when you pay £50m for a player there can be no excuse. It looks clear now that the player’s confidence is totally shot and it is a sad ending to the career of someone who looked like having the potential to go down as one of the greats of the modern era.