Macnelly Torres

{{Short description|Colombian footballer (born 1984)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}

{{family name hatnote|Torres|Berrío|lang=Spanish}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Macnelly Torres

| image = IndDV-AN (7) - копия.jpg

| caption = Torres with Atlético Nacional in 2016

| fullname = Macnelly Torres Berrío{{cite web |title=FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2016: List of Players |url=http://www.fifadata.com/document/FCWC/2016/pdf/FCWC_2016_SquadLists.pdf |publisher=FIFA |page=1 |date=14 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033347/http://www.fifadata.com/document/FCWC/2016/pdf/FCWC_2016_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=1 December 2017 |url-status=dead}}

| height = 1.75 m

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|11|1|df=y}}

| birth_place = Barranquilla, Colombia

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

Sprouse = Diana marcela alvarez (m. 2004)

children = Sharon Sofia Torres, Salome Torres

| position = Attacking midfielder

| youthyears1 = 1994–2001

| youthclubs1 = Junior

| years1 = 2002–2005

| clubs1 = Junior

| caps1 = 79

| goals1 = 6

| years2 = 2005–2008

| clubs2 = Cúcuta

| caps2 = 84

| goals2 = 11

| years3 = 2008–2011

| clubs3 = Colo-Colo

| caps3 = 81

| goals3 = 15

| years4 = 2011–2013

| clubs4 = Atlético Nacional

| caps4 = 79

| goals4 = 13

| years5 = 2011

| clubs5 = → San Luis (loan)

| caps5 = 16

| goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2013–2014

| clubs6 = Al Shabab

| caps6 = 22

| goals6 = 1

| years7 = 2015

| clubs7 = Junior

| caps7 = 19

| goals7 = 2

| years8 = 2015–2018

| clubs8 = Atlético Nacional

| caps8 = 90

| goals8 = 14

| years9 = 2018

| clubs9 = Deportivo Cali

| caps9 = 13

| goals9 = 1

| years10 = 2019

| clubs10 = Libertad

| caps10 = 22

| goals10 = 2

| years11 = 2020

| clubs11 = Alianza Petrolera

| caps11 = 9

| goals11 = 1

| nationalyears1 = 2003

| nationalteam1 = Colombia U20

| nationalcaps1 = 5

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2005–2017

| nationalteam2 = Colombia

| nationalcaps2 = 48

| nationalgoals2 = 4

| pcupdate = 18:19, 19 May 2021 (UTC)

| ntupdate =

}}

Macnelly Torres Berrío (born 1 November 1984) is a former Colombian footballer former professional footballer who played mainly as an attacking midfielder.

A playmaker and known for his technical abilities with the ball he was able to win 16 titles during his 18 years of career.

Torres made his debut for Colombia in 2007 and has scored 4 goals in 48 appearances for the country.

Club career

=Early career=

Torres joined Atlético Junior's youth system at age 10 until he made his debut as a professional in 2002. In the 2004 season Junior won the Finalización Tournament, which was his first professional title in his career. Macnelly was part of a "golden generation" for Junior, also including players like Martín Arzuaga and Omar Sebastián Pérez.

In 2005, he moved to Cúcuta Deportivo. He played a key role in the 2006 Finalización, helping the club secure its first-ever title and scoring in the second leg of the finals against Deportes Tolima.{{Cite news |date=20 December 2006 |title=Cucuta gano el primer titulo de su historia |url=http://www.futbolred.com/default.asp?link=noticia&idn=8182 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711121456if_/http://www.futbolred.com/default.asp?link=noticia&idn=8182 |archive-date=11 July 2007 |work=futbolred.com}}

He also participated in the 2007 Copa Libertadores, where he scored a goal against Uruguay's Nacional to help Cúcuta qualify for the semifinals, which they lost to the eventual champions Boca Juniors.

=Colo-Colo=

In June 2008, Torres officially joined Chilean powerhouse Colo-Colo for a fee of $2.2 million, becoming the club's most expensive signing at the time.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=27 June 2008 |title=Macnelly Torres, el fichaje más caro del fútbol chileno |url=https://www.elespectador.com/deportes/macnelly-torres-el-fichaje-mas-caro-del-futbol-chileno/ |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=ELESPECTADOR.COM |language=spanish}} He arrived as a replacement for his compatriot Giovanni Hernández, who signed for Junior.

Torres won two league titles with the club: the 2008 Clausura and the 2009 Clausura, notably scoring twice in a match against La Serena in route to the 2009 title.{{Cite web |last= |first= |first2= |date=2009-12-09 |title=Macnelly Torres es campeón con Colo Colo |url=https://gol.caracoltv.com/informacion-general/macnelly-torres-es-campeon-con-colo-colo |access-date=2022-10-12 |website=Gol Caracol |language=es}}{{Cite web |date=3 December 2009 |title=La Serena - Colo-Colo 0:3 (Primera División 2009 Clausura Playoffs, Semi-finals) |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/report/primera-division-2009-clausura-playoffs-halbfinale-la-serena-colo-colo/ |access-date=2025-07-09 |website=worldfootball.net |language=en}} On 3 March 2009, Torres had a great performance in a 3-1 victory against Palmeiras at Estádio Palestra Itália, scoring once and providing an assist.{{Cite web |date=3 March 2009 |title=Macnelly Torres marcó gol con Colo Colo ante Palmeiras por la Libertadores |url=https://www.colombia.com/futbol/autonoticias/colombianos/2009/03/03/detallenoticia45286.asp |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=Colombia.com |language=spanish}} Despite the important victory, Colo-Colo failed to progress out of the 2009 Copa Libertadores group stage.

On 31 January 2010, in the league's second matchday, Torres scored and provided an assist in a 3-1 victory against Cobreloa.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=31 January 2010 |title=Con un gol de Macnelly Torres, Colo Colo derrotó 3-1 a Cobreloa, en Chile |url=https://www.futbolred.com/archivo/documento/CMS-7084688 |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=futbolred.com |language=spanish}} In the following matchday , he provided two assists to Ezequiel Miralles in a 3-0 victory against Santiago Wanderers.{{Cite web |title=Colo Colo 3-0 S Wanderers (4 de Feb., 2010) Resultado Final |url=https://espndeportes.espn.com/futbol/partido/_/juegoId/286177/santiago-wanderers-colo-colo |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=ESPN DEPORTES |language=es}}

In January 2011, Torres requested to leave the club.{{Cite web |date=2011-01-06 |title=Macnelly Torres pidió al Colo Colo que lo deje partir |url=https://www.elcolombiano.com/historico/macnelly_torres_pidio_al_colo_colo_que_lo_deje_partir-BDEC_117754 |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=Elcolombiano.com |language=es-ES}}

=Atlético Nacional=

In January 2011, after rejecting a move to Brazilian club Vasco, he moved back to his home country and signed for Atlético Nacional on a one year loan with an option to buy.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2011-01-18 |title=Macnelly Torres explica recusa ao Vasco: 'Não era um dos maiores' |url=https://ge.globo.com/futebol/times/vasco/noticia/2011/01/macnelly-torres-explica-recusa-ao-vasco-nao-era-um-dos-maiores.html |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=Globo Esporte}}{{Cite web |date=2011-01-15 |title=Macnelly Torres llegó a un acuerdo con Nacional |url=https://espndeportes.espn.com/noticias/nota?s=col&id=1207669&type=story |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=ESPNdeportes.com |language=es}} With the club, he won the 2011 and 2013 Apertura, as well as the 2012 Copa Colombia. He also a brief loan spell after the 2011 Apertura to San Luis of the Liga MX.

=Al Shabab=

Shortly after winning the 2013 Apertura title with Nacional, Torres moved to the Middle East and signed with Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab for a fee of $4.5 million.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2013-07-18 |title=Macnelly Torres se va para el fútbol de Arabia Saudita |url=https://www.elespectador.com/deportes/futbol-colombiano/otros-equipos/macnelly-torres-se-va-para-el-futbol-de-arabia-saudita-article-434580/ |access-date= |website=ELESPECTADOR.COM |language=spanish}} He played one season with the Saudi club, where he scored once in 22 league appearances. He left the club in a controversial way, after sending a complaint to FIFA because he was denied his salary payment for five months.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2014-07-21 |title=Macnelly Torres demandó a su equipo en Arabia Saudita |url=https://www.elespectador.com/deportes/futbol-mundial/macnelly-torres-demando-a-su-equipo-en-arabia-saudita-article-505758/ |access-date=2022-10-12 |website=ELESPECTADOR.COM |language=spanish}}

=Return to Junior=

Torres returned to Junior in 2015, which was the club where he made his professional debut in 2001.{{cite web|url=https://www.futbolred.com/archivo/documento/CMS-14864657|title=Macnelly Torres vuelve a su casa: firmó con Junior para 2015|date=21 November 2014|publisher=futbolred.com}} He played the Apertura season with the club, which runs from January to June, while making 19 appearances and scoring 2 goals.

=Return to Atletico Nacional=

In June 2015, Torres returned to Nacional and signed a three-year contract with the club.{{Cite web |date=2015-06-27 |title=El '10' regresa: Macnelly Torres es el segundo refuerzo de Nacional |url=https://colombia.as.com/colombia/2015/06/27/futbol/1435434450_467476.html |access-date=2022-10-12 |website=Diario AS |language=es-co}} In December 2015, he won his first title with the club, the 2015 Finalizacion. He won the 2016 Copa Libertadores with Nacional, and scored an important goal against Rosario Central in the quarter-finals, while being named in the squad of the tournament.{{cite web|url= https://www.latercera.com/noticia/la-segunda-juventud-macnelly/|title=La Segunda Juventud de Macnelly|date=7 November 2016|publisher=La Tercera}} Also that year, he was part of the squad that beat Junior to win the 2016 Copa Colombia. He added two more titles in 2017: the Recopa Sudamericana in April, and the 2017 Apertura title in June.

= Deportivo Cali =

In July 2018, Torres signed for Deportivo Cali, and played the 2018 Finalización season with them.{{Cite web|date=2018-07-10|title=Macnelly Torres firmó este martes como nuevo jugador del Deportivo Cali|url=https://gol.caracoltv.com/futbol-colombiano/liga/macnelly-torres-firmo-este-martes-como-nuevo-jugador-del-deportivo-cali|access-date=2021-06-22|website=Gol Caracol|language=es}}

=Libertad=

In December 2018, a Club Libertad director commented that the club's coach, Leonel Alvarez, who is also Colombian just like Torres, wanted to bring the player to the club.{{Cite news|date=8 December 2018|title=Vuelve a insistir por Macnelly Torres|language=es|work=D10|url=https://d10.ultimahora.com/vuelve-insistir-macnelly-torres-n2784116.html}} A few days later, the transfer was confirmed and Torres signed for the Paraguayan club on a two-year contract. In addition, a release clause of $500,000 was set.{{Cite web|date=2 January 2019|title=Macnelly Torres rumbo a Paraguay: será nuevo jugador de Libertad|url=https://www.goal.com/es/noticias/macnelly-torres-rumbo-a-paraguay-sera-nuevo-jugador-de/1qrp346wdlenu1llakdll7ldud|website=Goal.com|language=es}} He joined fellow Colombian Alexander Mejía at the club, who was his former teammate at Atlético Nacional. He won the 2019 Copa Paraguay with the club.{{Cite web|date=2019-12-04|title=Álex Mejía y Macnelly Torres, campeones de la Copa Paraguay con Libertad: victoria 3-0 sobre Guaraní|url=https://gol.caracoltv.com/colombianos-en-el-exterior/alex-mejia-y-macnelly-torres-campeones-de-la-copa-paraguay-con-libertad-victoria-3-0-sobre-guarani|access-date=2021-06-23|website=Gol Caracol|language=es}} In January 2020, the club decided to terminate his contract, mainly due to the number of injuries he had and performing below the expectations.{{Cite web|date=2020-01-03|title=Libertad rescindirá el contrato de Macnelly Torres|url=https://colombia.as.com/colombia/2020/01/03/futbol/1578064598_005845.html|website=AS Colombia|language=es-co}}

= Alianza Petrolera =

In February 2020, the Colombian player returned to his home country, this time to Alianza Petrolera.{{Cite web|date=2020-02-21|title=Alianza Petrolera tiene a su fichaje estrella: Macnelly Torres jugará en el equipo de 'Barranca'|url=https://gol.caracoltv.com/futbol-colombiano/liga/alianza-petrolera-tiene-a-su-fichaje-estrella-macnelly-torres-jugara-en-el-equipo-de-barranca|access-date=2021-06-23|website=Gol Caracol|language=es}} In December 2020 he left the club, citing injuries and COVID-19 as the reasons.{{Cite web|date=2020-12-01|title=Macnelly Torres no seguiría en Alianza Petrolera y empieza a definir su futuro en otro club|url=https://gol.caracoltv.com/futbol-colombiano/liga/macnelly-torres-no-seguiria-en-alianza-petrolera-y-empieza-a-definir-su-futuro-en-otro-club|access-date=2021-06-23|website=Gol Caracol|language=es}}

On 22 December 2021, after a year of inactivity, he announced his retirement.{{Cite web |date=2021-12-22 |title=Se retira la compra más cara en la historia de Colo Colo: El colombiano Macnelly Torres anuncia que cuelga los botines |url=https://dalealbo.cl/colocolo/Ex-Colo-Colo-El-colombiano-Macnelly-Torres-anuncia-que-se-retira-del-futbol-20211222-0007.html |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=Dale Albo |language=es-CL}}

International career

Torres was part of the Colombia U-20 squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship. He played 5 games.

Torres made his international debut in a friendly against Guatemala on 17 June 2005.{{cite web|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/report/freundschaft-2005-januar-guatemala-kolumbien/|title=Guatemala vs. Colombia 1-1|date=17 January 2005|publisher=world football.net|access-date=11 April 2021}} He was part of the Colombia squad at the 2005 Gold Cup.Torres also played in all of Colombia's group games at the 2007 Copa America.

His decision to make the move to Saudi Arabia was publicly criticized by former Colombian midfielder Carlos Valderrama, as it was considered to be the reason why he wasn't selected for the 2014 World Cup squad. Despite not being selected, he was still called up to dispute the 2014 World Cup qualifying matches against Ecuador and Uruguay in September, as well as Colombia's last two matches against Chile and Paraguay, all while playing for Al-Shabab.{{cite web |date=29 August 2013 |title=Macnelly sigue con puesto en la seleccion |url=http://www.elcolombiano.com/BancoConocimiento/M/macnelly_sigue_con_puesto_en_seleccion/macnelly_sigue_con_puesto_en_seleccion.asp |publisher=El Colombiano}}{{cite web |date=26 July 2013 |title=Carlos Valderrama no apoya paso de Macnelly a Arabia Saudita |url=http://www.goal.com/es-co/news/4583/selecci%C3%B3n-colombia/2013/07/26/4144433/carlos-valderrama-no-apoya-paso-de-macnelly-a-arabia-saud%C3%AD |publisher=Goal.com}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=26 July 2013 |title="Ni mi mamá va a ver a Macnelly en Arabia", aseguró 'El Pibe' |url=https://www.futbolred.com/archivo/documento/CMS-12949942 |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=futbolred.com |language=spanish}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=16 May 2014 |title=Macnelly Torres confirma que no irá a Brasil 2014 |url=https://www.elpais.com.co/deportes/macnelly-torres-confirma-que-no-ira-a-brasil-2014.html |access-date= |website=elpais.com |language=spanish}}

Personal life

Torres' first name, Macnelly, was given to him by his father after a baseball star he admired.{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=Jonathan |title=2014 World Cup: A Team of Unfamiliar and Underrated Players to Look Out For |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1981715-2014-world-cup-a-team-of-unfamiliar-underrated-players-to-look-out-for |website=Bleacher Report |access-date=10 March 2019 |date=5 March 2014}}

Career statistics

=Club=

{{Updated|match played on 26 November 2016}}{{Soccerway|macnelly-torres/10422}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
colspan=2 | Club performance

! colspan=2 | League

! colspan=2 | Cup

! colspan=2 | Continental

! colspan=2 | Other

! colspan=2 | Total

ClubSeason

! Apps

Goals

! Apps

Goals

! Apps

Goals

! Apps

Goals

! Apps

Goals
colspan=2 | Colombia

! colspan=2 | Categoría Primera A

! colspan=2 | Copa Colombia

! colspan=2 | Continental1

! colspan=2 | Other2

! colspan=2 | Total

rowspan="3"|Atlético
Nacional
2015190200000210
201621910201104310
rowspan=1 | Total

!40||9||3||0||20||1||1||0||64||10

colspan=2 | Career total

!40||9||3||0||20||1||1||0||64||10

1 Includes cup competitions such as Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana.

2 Includes Superliga Colombiana matches.

=International goals=

Scores and results lists Colombia's goal tally first.[https://int.soccerway.com/players/macnelly-torres/10422/matches/ "Macnelly Torres International Statistics".], Int.soccerway.com Retrieved on 6 August 2014

class="wikitable collapsible"
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.11 February 2009Estadio Hernán Ramírez Villegas, Pereira, Colombia{{fb|HTI}}{{center|2–0}}{{center|2–0}}Friendly
2.29 March 2009Estadio Nemesio Camacho, Bogotá, Colombia{{fb|BOL}}{{center|1–0}}{{center|2–0}}2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
3.22 March 2013Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla, Colombia{{fb|BOL}}{{center|1–0}}{{center|5–0}}2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
4.1 September 2016Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla, Colombia{{fb|Venezuela}}{{center|2–0}}{{center|2–0}}rowspan=2|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

References

{{Reflist}}