Didier Drogba’s time at Chelsea has proven the measuring stick for any strikers who have played up front since his departure in 2012.
The Blues legend left the club for the first time in perfect circumstances, with the Champions League final against Bayern Munich being his last game at the time.
Despite Frank Lampard’s plea’s for Drogba to stay, the Ivory Coast international decided to move on, before returning to Stamford Bridge in 2014.
Given his quality, it is clear to see why Chelsea fans and pundits alike have looked to the former striker for comparisons to the player currently at the club.
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Jason Cundy compared Nicolas Jackson to Drogba when he scored against Brentford earlier this season, however it was another striker who he was hoping would fill his boots when he left.
Didier Drogba tipped Fernando Torres to become future of Chelsea
Fernando Torres had been signed by the Blues in 2011, and had endured a difficult start to life as a Chelsea player, and had often been rotated to Drogba in his final months at the club.
The Ivorian acknowledged the Spaniard’s tough beginnings at Chelsea, however tipped him for big things as he left the club following triumph in Munich.
He said to BBC Sport: “It’s been a difficult season for him, but he showed in a few games that he’s the man. Next season is going to be his season. I try to speak to him, we have a very good relationship, we didn’t understand why we didn’t play together more. Torres is the future here, at Stamford Bridge.”
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Torres would score some important goals in the season after Drogba left, however these came from a extremely large amount of games due to the varying competitions the Blues were featuring in.
Fernando Torres 12/13 stats Total
Games 64
Goals 22
Assists 8
It wouldn’t be long before the former Liverpool man was surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge, with Jose Mourinho clearly looking in another direction when it came to his number nine.
Torres moved on loan to AC Milan in 2014, before eventually joining Atletico Madrid after a further two seasons on loan with them.
Photo by Ian MacNicolGetty Images
Photo by Ian MacNicolGetty Images
What is Fernando Torres up to now?
Torres retired from playing at the end of the 2019 season in Japan, where he had been playing for Sagan Tosu.
It has not taken the former striker to long to return to the game, with him now persuing a career on the coaching side of things.
Torres is currently in charge of Atletico Madrid B, after a spell where he led the Atletico U19s side.