Introduction
Óliver Torres Muñoz (born 10 November 1994), known simply as Óliver (Spanish pronunciation: ['oliβer]), is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Portuguese club FC Porto on loan from Atlético Madrid. He can play as a central midfielder or an attacking midfielder.
Club career
Born in Navalmoral de la Mata, Cáceres, Extremadura, Óliver joined Atlético Madrid during the summer of 2008 at age 13. He spent four years progressing through the youth ranks before being introduced to the first team by manager Diego Simeone.
In late April 2012, despite not yet having featured for the club's reserve side, Óliver was called up to the main squad for a La Liga game against Real Betis. In the early hours of 20 August, in the 2012–13 season opener, he made his professional debut, coming on as a substitute for Adrián López in the 64th minute of a 1–1 away draw against Levante UD.
Óliver made his first appearance in the UEFA Champions League on 1 October 2013 at the age of 18 years and 10 months, replacing the injured Raúl García for the last 12 minutes of a 2–1 win at FC Porto for the group stage, becoming the Colchoneros' fourth-youngest player to do so. On the 27th, he scored his first official goal with the main squad, netting after 12 seconds in an eventual 5–0 home routing of Betis.
On 31 January 2014, Atlético loaned Óliver to fellow top division side Villarreal CF until the end of the campaign, his opportunities having been disadvantaged by the club's acquisition of Diego. He said of the deal, "I will try to learn as much as I can in this period and continue growing as a footballer and person." He made his debut on 2 March, playing the second half of the 1–1 home draw against Betis, and started for the first time with his new team six days later, in a 0–2 loss at Granada CF.
On 3 July 2014, Óliver was loaned to Porto in a season-long loan deal. He made his Primeira Liga debut on 15 August in a 2–0 win over C.S. Marítimo at the Estádio do Dragão, playing the full 90 minutes. On the 31st he scored his first goal for his new team, opening a 3–0 home win against Moreirense F.C. in the 70th minute.
Óliver was nominated for the 2014 Golden Boy Award. On 25 August 2016, he rejoined the Portuguese in another loan move.
International career
Óliver was a member of the Spanish squad which won the 2012 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Estonia. He played the entirety of the final on 15 July, in which the nation defeated Greece 1–0 in Tallinn.
Óliver played for the under-20 team at the 2013 FIFA World Cup in Turkey, featuring in all five matches as the side reached the quarter-finals. On 5 September 2013 he made his debut for the under-21s, replacing Suso for the final nine minutes of a 6–2 away victory against Austria at the start of Euro 2015 qualifiers.
Óliver scored his first goals on 14 November on his fifth under-21 cap, grabbing a brace in a 6–1 in Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica also for the European Championship qualifying phase.
Club statistics
- As of 12 March 2016
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Atlético Madrid | 2012–13 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 2013–14 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 4 | 0 | 14 | 1 | |
| 2015–16 | 18 | 0 | 5 | 0 | - | - | 7 | 1 | 30 | 1 | |
| Total | 33 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 54 | 2 | |
| Villarreal (loan) | 2013–14 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Total | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| Porto (loan) | 2014–15 | 26 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 40 | 7 |
| Total | 26 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 40 | 7 | |
| Career Total | 68 | 8 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 103 | 9 | |
Honours
Club
- Atlético Madrid
- La Liga: 2013–14
- Copa del Rey: 2012–13
- UEFA Champions League: Runner-up 2013–14, 2015–16
- Supercopa de España Runner-up: 2013
Country
- Spain U19
- UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2012