Why 10 Goals Is a Realistic Aim for Atletico Madrid's Fernando Torres in 2015-16

"Torres mania in Japan," ran a Marca headline on Friday. "The Atletico Madrid No. 9 only had to put his head round the door for the floodgates to open and everyone to go wild," the Madrid-based daily remarked, an army of fans carrying "everything imaginable about 'El Nino'" to greet Atleti at Saga Airport. 

The unaware could have been excused for thinking the reception for Fernando Torres was actually for a star of the calibre of Cristiano Ronaldo. Or Lionel Messi. But such a moment neatly encapsulated Torres' existence at Atletico Madrid: Even though he's no longer his team's biggest star, he still kind of is. 

While others are the headline acts, Torres is the family favourite—even though the new headline acts feature Jackson Martinez, Antoine Griezmann and Luciano Vietto. For reputation, for affection, there's no competition: Torres "mania" is just as evident at the Vicente Calderon.

Practically, however, there is competition. Lots of it. Martinez, Griezmann, Vietto and even Angel Correa represent Atleti's new attacking blood, the four fresh faces of a quintet including Torres that Marca has dubbed "The Jackson Five."

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Among them, Atletico's prodigal son is the oldest, probably the slowest. He's the one with the shortest remaining shelf life. In the pecking order, he sits third or perhaps fourth, depending on how you view Vietto's case as a work in progress. Playing time, therefore, might be a struggle in 2015-16 in the eyes of some. Goals, too. So what's realistic?

Ten feels like the number for Torres in front of goal in 2015-16. To some, of course, that might sound unattainable; to others it might sound paltry. Yet there is reason to believe it's about right for the club icon. 

Last season, the 31-year-old tallied six strikes in all competitions after returning to the Spanish capital. Notably, three came against Real Madrid and Barcelona in the Copa del Rey in what you could have termed a honeymoon phase, but his time in league was considerably more barren: three goals in 19 appearances. 

Given the presence of Martinez, Griezmann and Vietto, many might conclude that Torres would be fortunate to get another 19—that his prominence is only set to decrease. But that ignores one major thing: the influence of Diego Simeone. 

Torres, remember, was brought back to the banks of the Manzanares at Simeone's request. The Argentinian sought his former team-mate, his former captain, believing he could rekindle something in Torres. Last season, Simeone displayed a commitment to that cause, using the striker to some extent in every game bar two after his return. Thus, the manager won't be willing to give up on that now; he understands the feel-good factor that surrounds Torres and the cocktail of emotions his goals can stir. It is, after all, that sort of player-fan connection that defines Simeone's Atleti. 

In short, Simeone will play him. 

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What's more, Torres will benefit from the shift in the style that will unfold at the Vicente Calderon in 2015-16, the team's evolution to a faster, more dynamic method likely to increase the scoring chances available to Los Colchoneros' forwards. 

It's in that sense where the new incarnation of Atletico should differ most from those before it. In recent seasons, Simeone's men have slowed as the campaigns have progressed, their attritional method sapping their energy and verve in the closing months. In 2013-14, David Villa's scoring output was a victim of that, 13 of his 15 goals coming by February. Diego Costa was rather similar, too.

Last season, Torres suffered from the same issue, becoming a secondary option in a side that gradually lost its attacking vigour. But that steady wearing-down of Atleti should be addressed by a youthful, new-look outfit in the approaching season. When Torres plays, the service to him will be enhanced—more crisp and incisive thanks to the likes of Koke, Oliver Torres, Saul Niguez and Yannick Carrasco in midfield. 

Naturally, the Spaniard isn't the barnstorming force he once was, but a reinvented Atletico Madrid in 2015-16 will better cater to the striker he is now, the player he's become. 

So even in the presence of intense competition, expect Torres to play. Not all the time but regularly enough. And when he does, his chances of success should be considerably higher than last season. Ten goals for the campaign is realistic.