What’s next for Fernando Torres?

Fernando Torres announced Monday that he would be leaving Atletico Madrid at the end of the season. Here are five possible destinations.

Fernando Torres announced on Monday that he would be leaving Atletico Madrid at the end of the season. Torres’ contract expires at the of June and the Spanish striker will not be offered a new deal. With his time at his boyhood club coming to an end for a second time, the former World Cup winner will be looking for a new place to call home.

1. Fuenlabrada

Who? Fuenlabrada, that’s who. The Spanish third division side are based in Torres’ home town and  made a cheeky offer for him on Twitter in February. The social media “bid” was prompted by comments made by Atletico manager Diego Simeone during a press-conference which sparked rumors surrounding Torres’ future.

His best years are behind him but Torres won’t be considering a move to the lower rungs of Spanish soccer. That said, it would be great to see Torres play in a stadium named in honor of him.

2. Dalian Yifang

Again, who? Dalian Yifang are a club which Atletico Madrid fans will already be somewhat familiar with. The Chinese Super League side splashed the cash on Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco and Nicolas Gaitan earlier this year. The club are also managed by former Atleti midfielder Bernd Schuster.

Dalian Yifang don’t seem like an exciting prospect, but they could offer Torres one last mega pay-cheque before he retires. One possible snag is that CSL sides are limited to four foreign players and Dalian have already reached their quota. Former Southampton captain Jose Fonte and Zimbabwean international Nyasha Mushekwi are the other two foreigners alongside the aforementioned pairing of Ferreira-Carrasco and Gaitain. Nonetheless, Torres carries a massive reputation and would be preferred over either of the former players.

3. Newcastle

Everyone loves a reunion and Torres reuniting with Rafa Benitez would be great news for Newcastle. The Spanish compatriots worked together during their shared time at Liverpool and enjoyed considerable success, albeit without silverware.

Newcastle are England’s sleeping giants and have struggled up front in recent years. Torres’ experience and undoubted quality would be a massive boost for a club looking to return to their place among England’s elite. Whether club-chairman Mike Ashley would entertain his wage demands, though, is another story altogether.

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4. MLS

Half of the MLS season will have passed by the time Torres’ contract expires, but there will still be a host of U.S. clubs interested in his signature. The league has enjoyed considerable growth in recent years and is currently home to some of the world’s biggest, albeit aging, stars. LA Galaxy have Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Toronto have Sebastian Giovinco and NYCFC have David Villa.

Torres would be the latest big-name player to make the trek to the States and could well find himself banging in the goals for an Orlando City or New York Red Bulls. Much like the CSL, MLS would offer Torres a tidy retirement package but with the added benefit of a higher quality of soccer.

5. Liverpool

Another reunion!? No chance. The circumstances of Torres’ departure from Anfield left a sour taste in the mouths of some fans, so a reunion could help repair the relationship. Torres is one of the club’s most prolific goalscorers and is remembered fondly by a large section of the club’s supporters. That said, as far as practicality goes, a return to Anfield would be as pointless as the second-coming of Robbie Fowler. It would certainly pull at the heart strings, though.