Premier League icons reunite in the dugout as their youth sides clash in Europe
It was a reunion for the ages when Fernando Torres and Robin Van Persie embraced as their youth sides clashed in Europe.
The former Liverpool striker has managed Atletico Madrid U19's since 2021 and came up against the Manchester United icon – who manages Feyenoord U19's – in the UEFA Youth League. The two teams are in Group E and it was the Dutchman who drew first blood with a 2-1 victory in October.
However, Torres – who bested Van Persie in the 2010 World Cup when Spain won 1-0 in extra-time – claimed vengeance in their second clash on Tuesday (November 28) as Madrid secured all three points in a 1-0 victory thanks to a late strike by Iker Luque.
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Torres, 39, has led his side to top of Group E as they sit two points above Van Persie, 40, and his team. The Premier League legends are in the early stages of their coaching careers which they both began at their boyhood clubs and comes over a decade since they were in their prime during their playing careers.
The Spaniard announced himself in stunning fashion when joining Liverpool in 2007 as he scored 24 league goals, breaking the record for the most amount of goals scored for a foreign player in his debut season.
Who was a better striker in their prime between Fernando Torres and Robin Van Persie? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below
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Van Persie's ascent to the top of world football didn't arrive immediately upon his move to Arsenal in 2004 as he initially played second fiddle to Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp. Following their departures in the coming years, ex-striker came into his own at the Emirates and enjoyed the best season of his career in the 2011/12 campaign when he scored a league-high 30 goals for Arsenal.
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They both left for rivals with Torres joining Chelsea in 2011 and Van Persie leaving for Manchester United a year later as he won a second consecutive Golden Boot to lead the club to the Premier League title and his first, while Torres endured a horror tenure in West London, scoring just 20 goals in 110 games in the league.
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