Fernando Torres or Ruud van Nistelrooy? talkSPORT’s Darren Bent and Andy Goldstein clash in heated debate about which Premier League legend was better

Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent got into a heated, albeit amicable; debate live on air about who was better; Fernando Torres or Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Although completely different strikers, both men managed to strike fear into the hearts of Premier League defenders in their prime.

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Sir Alex Ferguson was desperate to bring the Netherlands international to Manchester United, eventually bringing him to Old Trafford from PSV.

Van Nistelrooy even failed a medical in 2000 after a cruciate ligament injury, but the Scot kept in touch and signed him 12 months later and it proved worth the wait.

In 219 appearances for United, he managed to score an astonishing 150 goals before departing to join Real Madrid.

Yet Torres, who enjoyed stints in the Premier League with both Liverpool and Chelsea, was equally devastating in front of goal and was a joy to watch in his prime.

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The former Atletico Madrid captain arrived at Anfield in 2007 and immediately smashed a record set by Van Nistelrooy – scoring more goals in his debut Premier League season than any other non-British player.

But injuries, a poor run of form and a somewhat questionable move to Chelsea saw the sparkling Spaniard diminish somewhat.

Yet the debate between Bent and Goldstein is sure to sway the opinion of fans, regardless of their footballing allegiance. Check out the incredible transcript below!

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DB: On his day, I mean Torres, in those four years at Liverpool, he was just…

AG: But that was it? That was all he did in his career, those four years…

DB: Not in his career! He had good years at Atletico.

AG: In his whole career, he had one season where he hit over 20 league goals. Van Nistelrooy had seven.

DB: Yeah but there are some great strikers out there that have never hit 20.

AG: I know, but we are comparing two.

DB: I know, I’m just giving you an example.

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AG: Van Nistelrooy, four out of five seasons at United got over 20 league goals. Torres did that once in his career.

DB: Yeah but Van Nistelrooy played in a better team.

AG: Okay, if you’re going to go down that road…

DB: Well it’s facts.

AG: Who was better; Spain or Holland? Spain

DB: Yeah, okay Spain.

AG: In his time at Spain, in a better team, 110 games and he scored only 38 goals.

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DB: One of them goals was where?

AG: What do you mean?

DB: One of those goals for Spain was in what game?

AG: Go on, you tell me.

DB: World Cup final? Sorry, Euro final against Germany.

AG: 38 goals.

DB: Right, but a goal in a major final.

AG: Van Nistelrooy played 40 games less for his country and scored three goals less. In a worse team. He’s won titles in England, Spain and Holland.

DB: Torres is better though.

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AG: He was the Champions League top scorer for three years, he won the Golden Boot.

DB: Stats-wise, I get you. On paper…

AG: He was clinical; he could score with either foot…

DB: Torres wasn’t clinical?! Torres was quicker than him, more powerful than him.

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AG: Fernando Torres had four years at Liverpool. Ruud van Nistelrooy; he did it United, he did it at PSV and he did it at Real Madrid!

DB: I understand that, but we are talking about prime.

AG: 68 games for Real Madrid, 46 goals.

DB: So are you saying Van Nistelrooy at Real Madrid was better than Van Nistelrooy at Man United?

AG: No, on par with. But even Liverpool fans will phone up and go ‘you know what, Van Nistelrooy was better’.

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DB: But Torres for those first couple of years at Liverpool, when he was at his absolute maximum, he was outrageous.

AG: But even when he was at his absolute best, he wasn’t better than Van Nistelrooy!

DB: Listen, [Nemanja] Vidic still has nightmares about Torres.

AG: What was his better foot, Torres?

DB: Right!

AG: He only had one.

DB: I’ve seen him score goals with his left foot, I’ve seen him score goals with his head!