If Liverpool pull off a deal to sign Fernando Torres, and they seem to be on the brink of doing just that, they will be getting an elegant striker who has scored some stunning goals during his career at Atletico and provided the clubs long-suffering fans with some rare moments of delight over the past few years.
But is Rafael Benitez right to look to the Spanish market once again as he tries to construct a championship-winning side? At best the former Valencia coach has had mixed fortunes in his bid to turn Anfield into a home-from-home for La Liga exiles.
Xabi Alonso and Pepe Reina can certainly be classed as major successes, while Luis Garcia (who is set to return to Atletico Madrid this week) and Momo Sissoko have also done well.
But there are a string of others — Josemi, Antonio Nunez, Mauricio Pellegrino, Fernando Morientes and Mark Gonzalez among them — who have failed to live up to their Primera Liga billing.
Whether it’s the rough and tumble of the Premiership, the climate, the language or the lifestyle, it is clear that not all Primera Liga players travel well.
Torres was top scorer and named player of the tournament when Spain won the Under-16 and Under-19 European championships in 2001 and 2002, he has topped the scoring charts at Atletico for the past five seasons and has already won 42 caps for the national side.
But he has also had some worrying barren periods for both club and country, he has never been able to lead his beloved Atleti into Europe and was even dropped from the Spain side earlier this season.
Most observers of the Primera Liga rate Valencias David Villa as a far more dangerous striker, but Liverpool would have to go well beyond the 30 million pound barrier if they wanted to extract him from the Mestalla.
Simon Baskett, Madrid
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6 comments so far
27 million quid makes darren bent look like a snip! think this could be the beginning of the end for benitez…
- Posted by redderthaneverHe’s a class player and you obviously have to pay through the nose these days to get someone of that calibre. Compared to Bent I think it’s actually a decent deal. If he’s going to adjust to any club it’s Liverpool, so worth a shot, I’d say.
- Posted by LondonTorres is a fantastic striker with a good eye for goal…and as a chelsea fan i hope liverpool dont buy him
- Posted by HarishI bought Torres while managing my virtual Liverpool team on FM06/07. Consistently scored over 20goals every season for me LoL
His age is a very big factor in Benetiz’s judgement… how old is he, 23? Even if he doesn’t bang in 20 goals in the first season, he’ll lure defenders away from Kuyt or Crouch. I’m super sure Liverpool’s team goals will improve with Torres coming in and he’ll be worth the 27m paid.
Judge how well the team has improved upon Torres’s arrival, not the individual player’s goals.
- Posted by Five TimesWhy not go the whole hog and sign Villa as well. And Barcelona could probably be persuaded to sell either Xavi or Iniesta. Then there’s Salgado and Helguera (both unwanted by Real), and maybe Soldado, and basically you’ve got a full Spanish team. Imagine the marketing potential! El Corte Ingles as the main sponsors of El Nuevo Anfield and free tapas with every San Miguel.
- Posted by LondonLiverpool are really sticking their necks out with this one, and given the success that Benitez has had so far - in Europe at least - expectations are going to be huge. If they’re not in contention for the premiership come the final third of the season after shelling out this kind of money, trouble will probably be just around the corner.
- Posted by dave