Former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has revealed he retains a strong affection for the club and acknowledged he owes the Merseysiders a 'huge amount'...
January will mark the two year anniversary of Spanish striker Fernando Torres quitting Anfield, in acrimonious circumstances, to make a British transfer record 50m move to Chelsea.
The 28-year-old was a prolific scorer during his three-and-a-half years on Merseyside with 81 goals in 142 appearances but, despite helping the Blues to Champions League glory last season, has subsequently endured a difficult period in the capital.
Speaking yesterday about his time at Liverpool to Spanish newspaper El Pais, Torres admitted: "I owe Liverpool a huge amount. To the people, to the men in charge, to (Rafa) Bentez and his staff, to the city. A huge amount.
"Liverpool is a fundamental part of my life. They don't remember me that way, but time will change that. I could not have chosen a better place to go when I left Atltico (Madrid).
"I decided to leave because I had to take a step forwards. It wasn't the best way to have gone but nor were things exactly as they were sold [to people]."
Although the Reds clearly struggled to compete for trophies towards the end of Torres' time on Merseyside, sidetracked by ownership problems and with a seemingly revolving door policy in the manager's office, the exact reasoning behind his decision to quit has never been full revealed.
The World Cup and two-time European Championship winner has so far chosen to remain relatively quiet on the full circumstances of his departure, despite having ample opportunity to lay his cards on the table and open up to fans who once idolised his every graceful move across the hallowed Anfield turf.
However, he did hint in the interview at there being more to the story than the mere quest for better trophy winning opportunities, adding: "One day the truth will come out. In a sporting sense, nothing was happening; a new project was needed. We talked about that - about growth."
In further extracts from El Pais, Torres had some heartfelt words of support for the victims of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, who recently saw their fight for justice vindicated by the release of an independent report absorbing Liverpool fans of any blame.
The findings were so clear in their damnation of the police, and their subsequent actions to cover up the events of that fateful day, that the Attorney General has now paved the way for a fresh inquest into the deaths of all 96 fans who lost their life's.
"The other day when the news broke about Hillsborough, I felt emotional," revealed Torres. "I have experienced that, I know what the people have been through, I have seen them cry. I've lived that, I made it mine.
"This has arrived too late but it's another step [in the right direction]. And it is things like that that playing for Liverpool gives you: it's a feeling."
The comments are sure to go down well with Liverpool fans, many of whom would welcome Torres back with open arms, despite the manner in which he left, should the player consider leaving Stamford Bridge in the near future.
The idea may not be as far-fetched as it seems, based on these comments, with Torres clearly still having a strong affinity with the club.
A possible reunion was actually discussed recently when an article suggested former director of football strategy Damien Comolli had made unlikely moves to resign the striker this past summer.
Whatever the future holds for Torres, there is no denying his goal scoring ratio at Liverpool sits proudly alongside the likes of fellow striking greats Roger Hunt, Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen.
Vital Verdict
Obviously any plans to buy back Torres, if they did exist, were probably ended by Comolli's sacking not to mention the summer departure of Didier Drogba which leaves Torres as Chelsea's main striking option at this moment in time. Also, as we've seen during the recent transfer window, Fenway Sports Group (Livepool's owners) are tightening their belts and given the player's age, the cost involved and a lack of any future resale value it would be a massive shock to see El Nino walk back through the Shankly Gates with a Liver Bird on his chest. That said, the above interview extracts sound genuine and there is no denying he was unplayable at times during his career at Anfield.
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