Dani Torres (Colombian footballer) explained

Dani Torres
Full Name:Daniel Alejandro Torres Rojas
Birth Date:15 November 1989
Birth Place:Cáqueza, Colombia
Height:1.83 m
Currentclub:Independiente Medellín
Position:Defensive midfielder
Youthclubs1:Sporting de Cáqueza
Youthyears2:2005–2008
Youthclubs2:Independiente Santa Fe
Years1:2008–2015
Caps1:158
Goals1:1
Years2:2011
Clubs2:Atlético Nacional (loan)
Caps2:12
Goals2:0
Years3:2015–2016
Caps3:39
Goals3:3
Years4:2016–2020
Caps4:41
Goals4:0
Years5:2019
Clubs5:Albacete (loan)
Caps5:16
Goals5:0
Years6:2020
Caps6:12
Goals6:0
Years7:2021
Caps7:17
Goals7:1
Years8:2021–2022
Caps8:34
Goals8:1
Years9:2023-2024
Caps9:40
Goals9:1
Years10:2024 -
Caps10:19
Goals10:2
Nationalyears1:2015–2017
Nationalcaps1:14
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:15 July 2023

Daniel Alejandro Torres Rojas (born 15 November 1989) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Independiente Medellín.

Club career

Santa Fe

Born in Cáqueza, Cundinamarca, Torres joined Independiente Santa Fe's youth setup in 2005 at the age of 15. He made his senior debut on 8 June 2008, starting in a 0–3 away loss against América de Cali.[1]

On 8 July 2011, Torres was loaned to fellow league team Atlético Nacional until the end of the year, with a buyout clause.[2] However, he only appeared sparingly for the club, being released in the end of the year mainly due to disciplinary problems (some of them related to alcoholism).[3]

Upon returning to Santa Fe, Torres established himself as a regular starter and helped the side in their 2012 and 2014 successful campaigns. He scored his first professional goal on 9 August of the latter year, netting the second in a 2–1 home win against Independiente Medellín.

Independiente Medellín

On 5 July 2015, Torres and fellow Santa Fe teammate Luis Carlos Arias were transferred to Independiente Medellín.[4] He featured regularly for the side during his spell, scoring two goals in the 2015 season.

Alavés

On 19 July 2016, Torres signed a four-year contract with Deportivo Alavés, newly promoted to La Liga.[5] He made his debut in the category on 21 August, starting in a 1–1 away draw against Atlético Madrid.[6]

Albacete (loan)

On 31 January 2019, after featuring rarely during the first half of the campaign, Torres was loaned to Segunda División side Albacete Balompié, for six months.[7]

Zaragoza

On 31 January 2020, Torres joined Real Zaragoza in the second division until the end of the season, after terminating his contract with Alavés.[8]

Albacete return

On 7 February 2021, free agent Torres returned to Albacete on a contract until the end of the campaign.[9]

International career

On 6 November 2015, Torres was called up by Colombia national team manager José Pékerman for two 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Chile and Argentina. He made his full international debut six days later, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 draw against the former.

Torres was also included in Pékerman's final 23-man list for the Copa América Centenario, featuring regularly as his side finished third.

Personal life

In October 2016, Torres produced a video urging Colombians against supporting the peace deal with FARC.[10] Torres is a devout Christian, who cited his opposition to then president Juan Manuel Santos as that Santos did not put Jesus at the center of his politics.[11]

Career statistics

Club

Club performanceLeagueCupContinentalTotal
Club Season LeagueApps GoalsApps GoalsApps GoalsApps Goals
ColombiaLeagueCup[12] South AmericaTotal
Santa Fe2008Categoría Primera A50000050
20091600000160
20102100060270
20111304000170
20122106000270
20133804000420
2014361110120591
20151302081231
Subtotal16312702612162
Atlético Nacional (loan)2011Categoría Primera A1204000160
Independiente Medellín2015Categoría Primera A2326080372
20161611000171
Subtotal3937080543
SpainLeagueCupEuropeTotal
Alavés2016–17La Liga2105000260
2017–181805000230
2018–1920100030
Subtotal41011000520
Career total25544903413405
Notes

Honours

Club

Santa Fe

2012-I, 2014-II

2009

2013, 2015

International

Colombia

Third place 2016

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Daniel Torres, pidiendo pista en la Selección. Daniel Torres, asking for a place in the National Team. En Directo Sabana. es. 7 November 2014. 10 September 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160919033949/http://www.endirectosabana.com/deportes/detalle-noticia/articulo/daniel-torres-pidiendo-pista/. 19 September 2016.
  2. Web site: El volante Daniel Torres es nuevo jugador de Atlético Nacional. Defensive midfielder Daniel Torres is the new player of Atlético Nacional. Caracol Radio. es. 8 July 2011. 10 September 2016.
  3. Web site: Daniel Torres, jugador del Santa Fe, venció el alcoholismo. Daniel Torres, player of Santa Fe, defeated the alcoholism. Noticias RCN. es. 20 January 2014. 10 September 2016.
  4. Web site: Daniel Torres y Luis Carlos Arias fueron transferidos al Medellín. Daniel Torres and Luís Carlos Arias were transferred to Medellín. Caracol Televisión. es. 5 July 2015. 10 September 2016.
  5. Web site: Daniel Torres, juego, contención y liderazgo en el centro del campo. Daniel Torres, break-up play and leadership in the centre of the midfield. Deportivo Alavés. es. 19 July 2016. 10 September 2016.
  6. Web site: Al Atleti le sobra el final. To Atleti the ending is too much. Marca. es. 21 August 2016. 10 September 2016.
  7. Web site: Dani Torres jugará cedido en el Albacete. Dani Torres will play on loan at Albacete. Deportivo Alavés. es. 31 January 2019. 31 January 2019.
  8. Web site: El Real Zaragoza incorpora al centrocampista Dani Torres. Real Zaragoza sign central midfielder Dani Torres. Real Zaragoza. es. 31 January 2020. 19 August 2020.
  9. Web site: Dani Torres vuelve a enfundarse la camiseta del Alba. Dani Torres wears the shirt of Alba again. Albacete Balompié. es. 7 February 2021. 7 February 2021.
  10. Web site: Colombian Opposition to Peace Deal Feeds Off Gay Rights Backlash. New York Times. english. 8 October 2016. 10 October 2016.
  11. Señor presidente, el centro de esta negociación no es Jesucristo . Semana . Spanish . September 27, 2016 . October 2, 2016.
  12. Includes Copa Colombia and Superliga Colombiana.