Daniel Torres, the biggest lion of Santa Fe, ready to challenge Atlético Nacional

If Santa Fe is the lions team, Daniel Torres He may well be the leader of the pack. He is that midfielder who goes out to play as if every game were a battle, a hunt. Torres imposes his courage, he unleashes his deafening roar so that his rivals know what they are facing, and tremble, and so that his teammates feel safer, supported. This Saturday, when Santa Fe faces Atlético Nacional in El Campín, Torres comes out armed with courage and bravery to go for the dam, to go for another victory.

Daniel Torres has the shield of Santa Fe tattooed on his soul, well below the original shield, well inside his skin. In Santa Fe He was formed, in Santa Fe he debuted, in Santa Fe he became a lion. In Santa Fe he was already a champion, multiple champion, he won two Leagues, a Cup, two Super Leagues. He wants more. His hunger is enormous.

One day he left, he put on other shirts, he wore other colors, he even went to Spain, he was even on the Colombian National Team, but when he returned to Bogotá, it was as if he had never left. Years have passed, he is now 34, his mane is gray, because he is no longer the brave little lion, now he is a big lion.

He was at Independiente Medellín. He was not there for a walk. He won a League (2016), there he returned after his trip through Europe, he imposed his leadership, he became necessary, he made himself loved, then he left and made himself missed.

This year he returned to the cardinal team and arrived as what he is, a seasoned player. There was no need to wait for him or accommodate him or find a position for him, if anything, find companions for him. Torres arrived and took his place, as if he had never left. There he is, in the midfield, very boss, very lion, the fan sees him, admires him, does not need to encourage him because he encourages himself, plays as if he were always motivated, goes to the collision, to the ground, up, destroys, takes away the ball, he intimidates and does not allow himself to be intimidated, and then he throws his precise passes.

For all this, Daniel is the support on which Pablo Peirano's Santa Fe is built, the one that is practically classified for home runs, which has 27 points and which increasingly looks more solid. Yes, there is the scorer Hugo Rodallegaanother necessary one, but Torres does his work, his tasks, like an elegant worker.

This is one of those games in which their fierceness is needed the most, when Atlético Nacional will be in front. A weakened, collapsed, almost eliminated Nacional, but still alive, needy, urgent, and for all that this match has its enormous importance.

Gerardo Pelusso, the coach who won Santa Fe champion of the Copa Sudamericana in 2015 and who is Peirano's teacher, will be the club's guest of honor. And upon his return, he did not hesitate to praise Torres. “When we arrived in 2015, he went to Medellín, we couldn't enjoy it, but he came at this stage already mature, and he is a leader, like Rodallega; They are the first to train, the first to arrive, the ones who take care of themselves the most and the ones who run the most,” he said.

Daniel Torres has played all 15 games that Santa Fe has played this season, confirming his great physical shape, free of injuries. In addition, he has scored two goals, against Águilas and Patriotas. And when he scores, he smiles, stretches his arms, draws a heart with his hands and goes to meet the hugs, with that passion that he carries for that shirt, as if he wanted to hug the entire pack.

Programming

Santa Fe vs. National

Time: 4:10 pm

TV: Win+

PABLO ROMERO

Editor of EL TIEMPO

@PabloRomeroET

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