Footballer Fernando Torres, who transferred from Liverpool to Chelsea in 2011 for a British transfer record fee of £50 million, has not been able to replicate his success with his newest employers. Having netted 50 league goals faster than other player in Liverpool history, he has only scored 14 in his career with Chelsea, drawing criticism from a number of onlookers. Now, it looks like a leading betting chain is getting involved in the action with a high-profile print campaign.
Paddy Power – no stranger to self-promotion – has plastered up a billboard poster opposite Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge ground, criticising the Spanish-born forward, openly mocking his inability to convert. The massive advert for the company reads: “Fernando, we’ve got an onion bag you can actually find. It’s in the burger van mate. Get your hair net on.”
So far, Chelsea have apparently failed in their attempts to have the poster removed on grounds of image rights – because it is not on the company’s property. However, they may take scraps of comfort in the fact they’re not the only ones being targeted. Other players on the receiving end on the campaign by Paddy Power are Arsenal’s Andrey Arshavin, West Brom’s Peter Odemwingie, Aston Villa’s Darren Bent and Jose Bosingwa of QPR.