The A-League will go back to the drawing board in search of a marquee star to boost flagging attendances and TV ratings after Fernando Torres turned down the chance for a Sydney FC sojourn. Torres has confirmed he will sign for J-League club Sagan Tosu rather than take up an offer from the Sky Blues. Gone to highest bidder: Fernando Torres celebrates after winning the UEFA Europa League final with Atletico Madrid\'s over Olympique Marseille in May. Credit:EPA The 34-year-old will join another former A-League target, fellow Spaniard Andres Iniesta in Japan. But it is a disappointing outcome for Football Federation Australia, who are desperate to bring some international star power to the A-League with their centralised $3 million marquee fund.<doc-sep>How close Sydney FC were to signing Fernando Torres The Spanish star was on the verge of calling Sydney home After a few days of speculation, Spanish striker Fernando Torres has officially joined Japanese side Sagan Tosu with A-League club Sydney FC going very close to snaring the free agent. With Football Federation Australia eager to sign a big-name marquee, Torres seemed to tick all the boxes and Sydney FC were eager to secure the former Atletico Madrid attacker. Torres was reportedly looking into schools for his children to attend in Australia but despite some last-minute negotiations, the Sky Blues fell just short of convincing Torres to make the move Down Under. "There were moments in the process when we thought we had the deal done," Sydney FC CEO Danny Townsend told Fox Sports. "The level of engagement was so strong and the feedback we were getting was that we were right in there with a shout, so that’s probably why it’s so disappointing. "When you’re on the losing end you think back at what you could have done differently. "The fact we were so close is a testament that we were all in - we weren’t messing around." Having recently lost Bobo and Adrian Mierzejewski, Sydney FC remain in the market for replacements with Peter Crouch the latest marquee apparently being targetted by the FFA. Though disappointed to miss out on Torres, the Sky Blues were never banking solely on the Spaniard and have cast their net wide in search of other signings. Article continues below "We didn’t put all our eggs in one basket," he said. "We’ve been running a concurrent process with many other very good players. "We’re still working through that and there’s still a reasonable amount of time to go before we need to have our squad settled."<doc-sep>SYDNEY FC have missed out in the race to sign Spanish great Fernando Torres. It’s understood the club spent most of last night negotiating terms with the Spanish striker, who confirmed on Tuesday that he will sign for J-League club Sagan Tosu. The departures of Bobo and Adrian Mierzejewski freed up $2 million to lure Torres, and it’s understood the FFA were also willing to chip in by dipping into the new marquee fund to put together an attractive package. However a financial deal ultimately couldn’t be reached with Torres. Atletico Madrid's Spanish forward Fernando Torres celebrates after scoring a goal Source: AFP Torres tweeted that he will be announcing his new ‘football destination’ at a press conference in Spain. The former Liverpool and Chelsea striker is a free agent after his contract with Atletico Madrid expired. It was later revealed that he would follow fellow Spanisih international Andres Iniesta and ply his trade in Japan. Torres would have been be the highest-profile A-League signing since Alessandro Del Piero signed for the Sky Blues in 2012. The 34-year-old has won the World Cup and Champions League during his career and is said to have been looking to move to a club with an attractive lifestyle for him and his family.<doc-sep>Sydney FC are on the hunt for ex-Spain striker Fernando Torres after they confirmed the departures of marquee striker Bobo and Johnny Warren Medallist Adrian Mierzejewski. "We have some very exciting targets who we are talking to and I’m looking forward to bringing in more quality to an already experienced and talented squad," recently appointed Sydney FC coach Steve Corica said yesterday. Superstar: Fernando Torres with the Europa League trophy in May. Credit:PA Spanish veteran Torres is considering his options after calling time on his second spell at childhood club Atletico Madrid at the end of last season. The 34-year-old former Liverpool and Chelsea striker has been heavily linked with a move to the MLS or Japan but the A-League, in particular Sydney, could entice him in a similar fashion to Alessandro Del Piero in 2012.<doc-sep>
Fernando Torres unlikely to join A-League after Sydney FC near-miss The Spanish striker was very close to a move Down Under Despite late-night negotiations with Sydney FC, Fernando Torres is set to play in America and not Australia next season. The Spanish striker will make an official announcement this afternoon in Madrid with multiple reports suggesting an inadequate financial offering will mean Torres won't join the A-League. According to AAP, Torres was seriously considering the prospect of moving to Australia and was even looking into schools for his children to attend. Though Football Federation Australia were prepared to cover $2 million of any deal for the former Liverpool player, an A-league club, understood to be Sydney FC, couldn't match Torres' financial demands. He now looks to set to join MLS side Chicago Fire this afternoon with the FFA left to target another marquee. Keisuke Honda remains a possibility but his current wage demands makes a move Down Under unlikely. Article continues below Torres will join Bastian Schweinsteiger at Chicago Fire should he join the club - with the side still to fill one of their designated player spots which allows them to pay players outside of the salary cap. Sydney FC seemed like a perfect fit for Torres with the Sky Blues recently losing Bobo and Adrian Mierzejewski for transfer fees - not to mention a history of signing marquee players in the past. After a season of reduced crowds, a marquee player is seen as vital for the competition with main broadcaster Fox Sports providing $3 million in order to attract a big name Down Under and in turn boost interest in the league.