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Liverpool Echo

Fernando Torres and Alvaro Arbeloa feud continues after shocking war of words

Former Liverpool players Fernando Torres and Alvaro Arbeloa faced off as managers in a derby match between Real and Atletico Madrid U19s on Sunday

Former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres as head coach of Atletico Madrid U19s
Former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres as head coach of Atletico Madrid U19s(Image: Diego Souto/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

The stand-off between former Liverpool stars Fernando Torres and Alvaro Arebloa continued at the weekend.


The two men were first team regulars during Rafa Benitez’s time as Liverpool boss. Arbeloa was signed from Deportivo La Coruna in January 2007, featuring as a late substitute in that year’s Champions League final, while Torres joined the Reds that summer. The striker became an instant hit at Anfield, scoring 81 goals in 142 games, before leaving for Chelsea in January 2011.


After leaving Liverpool, full-back Arebloa enjoyed great success upon rejoining boyhood club Real Madrid, while Torres also made an emotional return to Atletico Madrid. Since retiring, the former teammates have both gone into coaching and remained on opposite sides of the divide within the Spanish capital.


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Torres was appointed head coach of Atleti’s Under-19s in 2021, with Arbeloa taking up the same position at Real, a year later. Their Juvenil teams met on Sunday with Torres’ side recording a 2-1 win, but there was still plenty of drama after the full-time whistle.

While Torres celebrated the result with his coaching staff, footage from Marca showed that Arbeloa did not hang around to shake hands with his opposite number, briefly waiting before heading to the dressing room. That meant that Arbeloa was not aware of players squaring off on the opposite side of the pitch, leading both squads to leap to their respective teammate’s defence.

It is the latest chapter in a burgeoning rivalry between Torres and Arbeloa. The ex-Liverpool duo previously clashed during a Youth Champions Cup quarter-final tie in May. It was prompted after Real’s U19s scored, despite Atleti refusing to put the ball out of play when an opposition player was down injured.

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Arbeloa subsequently approached Torres on the touchline, who pushed the former defender. Spanish outlet Relevo reported that Torres said, “I'll blow your head off”, to which Arbeloa responded “Start whenever you want.” The incident in May resulted in Torres being sent off, while Arbeloa was booked.

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