In August 2012, a 17-year-old midfielder named Oliver Torres made his much-anticipated Atletico Madrid debut under Diego Simeone. In 2025, Torres is hoping to line-up against his boyhood club and the coach who gave him his bow for Monterrey at next year’s FIFA Club World Cup 2025™.

Thirty-two clubs from all over the world will be vying for the global title in the United States, with Martin Demichelis’ side no different. With Oliver and fellow La Liga alumni Sergio Canales in their ranks, the Rayados will have a Spanish flavour in the engine room and creative pockets. The latest to join the adventure is Lucas Ocampos who, like Torres, made the plunge to swap Seville for North-Easter Mexico.

“I spent five years at Sevilla,” Oliver told FIFA. “I experienced incredible moments there, I was able to be a champion, and I felt that I had to get out of my comfort zone. I was very comfortable and my home was nearby.

“However, I thought the experience for me now, both in terms of sport and life, had to be far away. When Rayados came calling, it had everything I was looking for. It was also a personal challenge to change everything. And in sporting terms, I would be in a team that is fighting to be champion.”

After more than 15 years spent in the Iberian peninsula across spells with Atleti, Villarreal, FC Porto and Sevilla, Oliver admits his latest career move was a bold choice, but one he made with next year’s tournament in mind.

“This is a major change,” he admitted. “Coming from Portugal and Spain, which are very similar, and going to a place that is far away from your roots, but I have met people who are very helpful and willing to make you feel at home. This is a great club with a great project and I’m looking forward to feeling good and performing to the best of my ability.

“One of the reasons for my decision to join Rayados was also to play in the Club World Cup. It is something special for any player and I think we all see it from that perspective. The Rayados, as a club, and Monterrey, as a city, are highly motivated to be in that tournament and we are working on a plan to go there and perform well.

“Football and life is about seeking new excitement and fresh challenges, that’s why I’m moving to Mexico. To face new teams, to play in different stadiums, to see different fans… and the Club World Cup is unique, beautiful and special. We should feel privileged to be playing in this competition.”

Changing room discussions about the world event have already begun and, with a draw for the group stage yet to be made, Monterrey minds have been sent racing.

“Sergio [Canales] and I want to play a Spanish team, but a lot of players also want Manchester City,” he said. “If I could choose, I’d like to play against teams that I idolised since I was a kid or that I like now and I haven’t been able to play against them. I’ve been able to play against Spanish or many European teams, so I’d like to meet some legendary teams, but different from what I’ve faced so far.”

While the pair both played in La Liga for the bulk of their careers, they never crossed paths. Canales made his name at Racing Santander, before moves to Real Madrid, Valencia, Real Sociedad and Real Betis across 15 years in his homeland. But now they’re team-mates, Oliver admitted things are different.

“We didn’t have a close relationship,” Oliver stated. “But as soon as I asked him he welcomed me in, told me about the project and explained things about the city and how he felt about it. He wanted to help me with everything. We were rivals, but today we are team-mates and I think we will have a lasting friendship.

“I have come up against him many times, but he is a role model for me. He started playing for Racing at a very young age and went on to sign for Real Madrid. He’s had several injuries and afterwards played at his best level. To be able to share all those experiences with him in person, to be able to talk about football and life, is really special. He has the magical ability to see things where others don’t in sport, and for me that is a privilege. Sergio has been blessed by a magic wand.”

It’s not just Canales’ ability that has caught Oliver’s eye in his opening few weeks. The Rayados faithful, he says, has also surprised him. “I was stunned that, from the first minute to the 90th, they don’t stop chanting,” said the midfielder. “I really enjoyed the atmosphere. People breathe football, not just in the stadium, but around the city, too.”

But this devoted fanbase is not confined to one stadium, however. It has spread across an entire country that will be hosting FIFA World Cup 26™ on home soil in just under two years time, where their passion will surely be evidenced.

“It is a football-mad country. It’s non-stop day and night in the city of Monterrey. Twenty-four hour football on every TV, radio and people are talking about it in every bar. There is a lot of talent, top teams, fantastic stadiums and Mexico as a footballing country has incredible qualities.”