Torres or Van Nistelrooy? talkSPORT Drive hosts get in heated debate about who

On Sep 15, 2020

Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent got into a heated, albeit amicable; debate live on air about who was better; Fernando Torres or Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Although completely different strikers, both men managed to strike fear into the hearts of Premier League defenders in their prime.

Van Nistelrooy is one of Man United’s greatest goal scorers, but his career at Old Trafford ended on a sour note

Sir Alex Ferguson was desperate to bring the Netherlands international to Manchester United, eventually bringing him to Old Trafford from PSV.

Van Nistelrooy even failed a medical in 2000 after a cruciate ligament injury, but the Scot kept in touch and signed him 12 months later and it proved worth the wait.

In 219 appearances for United, he managed to score an astonishing 150 goals before departing to join Real Madrid.

Yet Torres, who enjoyed stints in the Premier League with both Liverpool and Chelsea, was equally devastating in front of goal and was a joy to watch in his prime.

Torres was the complete centre forward and was at his best for Liverpool

The former Atletico Madrid captain arrived at Anfield in 2007 and immediately smashed a record set by Van Nistelrooy – scoring more goals in his debut Premier League season than any other non-British player.

But injuries, a poor run of form and a somewhat questionable move to Chelsea saw the sparkling Spaniard diminish somewhat.

Yet the debate between Bent and Goldstein is sure to sway the opinion of fans, regardless of their footballing allegiance. Check out the incredible transcript below!

Even at Chelsea he managed to score goals for fun

DB: On his day, I mean Torres, in those four years at Liverpool, he was just…

AG: But that was it? That was all he did in his career, those four years…

DB: Not in his career! He had good years at Atletico.

AG: In his whole career, he had one season where he hit over 20 league goals. Van Nistelrooy had seven.

DB: Yeah but there are some great strikers out there that have never hit 20.

AG: I know, but we are comparing two.

DB: I know, I’m just giving you an example.

The Spaniard formed a lethal partnership with Steven Gerrard

AG: Van Nistelrooy, four out of five seasons at United got over 20 league goals. Torres did that once in his career.

DB: Yeah but Van Nistelrooy played in a better team.

AG: Okay, if you’re going to go down that road…

DB: Well it’s facts.

AG: Who was better; Spain or Holland? Spain

DB: Yeah, okay Spain.

AG: In his time at Spain, in a better team, 110 games and he scored only 38 goals.

Torres had a reputation for scoring in big games, like the winner at the Euro 2008 final

DB: One of them goals was where?

AG: What do you mean?

DB: One of those goals for Spain…