Torres Joins Chelsea

Spanish striker Fernando Torres has moved on from Liverpool to join London's Chelsea FC in a transfer that was worth 50 million pounds or $79.5 million for 5.5 years.

The transfer is the biggest of all-time for a British club and third most all-time internationally. Only Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer to Real Madrid from Manchester United and Kaká's from AC Milan to Real Madrid were worth more.

Torres was a living legend in Liverpool (and around the world) but after 102 goals in 3.5 years in Merseyside, he was at a boiling point in frustration with the Reds inability to compete with the big boys of the Barclays Premier League.

Chelsea supporters should get used to seeing these kinds of cellies.

He shouldn't have that problem now as he joins the defending champs of the league and a team that is now nearly unstoppable. I assume that Chelsea was looking for someone to replace the aging striker Didier Drogba and they get the 26 year old "El Niño" to do just that.

Liverpool, in response to the Torres move, has bought the 22 year old Andy Carroll formerly of Newcastle United. The deal for Carroll makes him the most expensive footballer from Britain having transfered for 35 million pounds.

Liverpool faithful is still visibly shaken however. Supporters have felt betrayed by the star and have gone to LeBron-leaving-Cleveland type extremes upon his exit. I wouldn't be so upset after the arrivals of Andy Carroll and Luís Suarez.

-Mitch

And The Award Goes To....

FIFA announced their annual Player of The Year award today, with the winner being Barcelona forward Lionel Messi.

The Argentine Messi is one of just three players all-time to win this award in consecutive seasons. In his company are Brasileiros Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.

He finished first with 22.65 percent of the vote in front of F.C. Barcelona teammates Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez. Barcelona has featured eight of the twenty winners for Player of The Year.

Messi, dubbed as Diego Maradona's successor as Argentina's most prized footballer, has 18 goals in 15 games so far this season for Barcelona and had 58 last year. He had a dissapointing 2010 World Cup, in which he was unable to put the ball to the back of the net, while Iniesta and Xavi led Spain to the World Cup title.

The Goal of the Year was this little gem from Turkish footballer Hamit Altintop:



Truly an amazing shot off the corner.

-Mitch