Fernando Torres ‘is pursuing £687,000 in compensation from Spanish government for Covid-19 damages’

Former Chelsea and Liverpool forward Fernando Torees is reportedly taking the Spanish Government to court due to damages incurred over the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Spaniard, who is not a coach at boyhood club Atletico Madrid, retired in 2019 after a spell in Japan.

Since hanging up his boots, Torres made several investments as he owns a chain of gyms, branded ‘New Fitness’.

According to Spanish news outlet El Confidencial, via Football Espana, his chain of gyms had reached £86,000 in profit prior to the pandemic before safety measures were introduced in Spain by the Government and Madrid Council.

His profits then fell to a £172,000 loss the following year as Torres alleged the Spanish restrictions were ‘disproportionate and intense’.

The forward, who retired in Japan, claims his company lost £172,000 during the pandemic

Torres spent the majority of his career in England, switching Liverpool for Chelsea in 2010

Torres has seen his case rejected by the local justice system, the report continues to state.

The matter has now been escalated and reached the Supreme Court with the former Premier League forward demanding his company be reimbursed for their losses.

It remains to be seen as to whether the 39-year-old will be successful in his challenge.

He is currently the manager of Atletico Madrid’s under-19 side in Spain and could have a future in the senior game once again.

During his time back in Madrid, Torres made the news as he was sent off for pushing his former Liverpool teammate Alvaro Arbeloa.

The pair got into a heated argument as Atletico Madrid’s youth side faced fierce rivals Real Madrid with the pair in the respective dugouts, with Torres yelling ‘I’ll blow your head off’ to the rival coach.