Peter Fraser thinks Fernando Torres embodies the modern footballer but Liverpool must move on.
Peter Fraser believes Fernando Torres embodies the selfish modern footballer, but Liverpool must not hold a grudge
It is another indictment of the culture of football; tales of treachery and money. And as the fallout from the multi-million pound 2011 January transfer window settles, Fernando Torres' move to Chelsea provides a case study.
The Spaniard's now completed record-breaking £50million switch from Anfield to Stamford Bridge has been one of the world's most significant transfers. It is another unsavoury sign of the way of life and the latest Professor Moriarty was the former Atletico Madrid virtuoso.
Chelsea are the undoubted winners after capturing a striker of supreme skill. Liverpool have certainly received a painful reminder of their fall from grace, despite the box-office signings of Andy Carroll, unbelievably now the most expensive British footballer in history, and Luis Suarez. But Torres is the man who has come under the greatest scrutiny. Morals questioned; dignity in doubt; reputation tarnished.
There have been cries of an act of betrayal from Liverpool loyalists, who once idolised El Nino. But the notion of allegiance has been buried in football for years, if it ever existed other than as anomalies. It is no longer possible to imagine one-club players. John Terry, on the field anyway, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Francesco Totti and Xavi are to name a few who remain faithful. But they were brought up in different generations.
Torres is the 21st Century footballer personified. For all the superb ability on the field, the 26-year-old has demonstrated that he is a ruthless professional. Career comes before love. That single-minded nature is what makes him a cold-hearted assassin on the pitch. He has gone a step further than Cesc Fabregas, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez, who all almost surrendered their iconic status at respective clubs for moves elsewhere. Even Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard twice flirted with the idea of joining Chelsea before changing his mind.
Unsavoury
But when Gerrard seemed set to leave Anfield in the mid-Noughties the outpouring of dismay and pleads from The Kop were in stark contrast to those which have met Torres. The striker should not be blamed for wanting to further his career, anybody in any form of employment would want to do the same. However, the criticism comes in the Dick Whittingham manner in which he has moved to London, where he believes the streets are paved with gold, or, more accurately, silverware. Liverpool fans feel like a jilted lover because they believed Torres was one of them. It further emphasises the fact that badge-kissing from footballers is comparative to telling a husband or wife that you are working late.
The manner in which Torres engineered his transfer is the most unsavoury aspect. He sulked his way through matches for the past 18 months before handing in a transfer request the day after a failed bid from Chelsea. The obvious response is to say that former Newcastle striker Carroll, or even Blackpool captain Charlie Adam with less success, behaved identically by asking for a move when his head had been turned. Although, Carroll is claiming that he was forced out of St James' Park. The timing of Torres' request was also inexplicably egotistic with just three days remaining of the window, forcing the over-the-odds £35m fee for Carroll.
Assumptions that Torres' body language was an indication that his mind was elsewhere over the past year-and-a-half have been proved entirely accurate. It had nothing to do with former managers Roy Hodgson, Rafa Benitez, or a lack of fitness, he wanted out and was probably denied that opportunity last summer. That is where Liverpool fans are stinging. The make-up of the 18-time champions of England is one of togetherness epitomised by Gerry Marsden.
Indeed, prior to Torres' £26.5m arrival in England in 2007, he was famously spotted wearing, 'You'll Never Walk Alone' upon the inside of his Atletico captain's armband. The event inspired the atmospheric, 'Fernando Torres, Liverpool's No.9' chant which used to roll from The Kop. A quick search of fans' forums and message boards shows that the lyrics have already been significantly altered and Sunday's Chelsea debut at Stamford Bridge against his former employers, live on Sky Sports HD1/1 and 3D, is likely to be a bit feisty.
There is a sense of dismay among those in red at selling to domestic rivals. Torres himself told
Sport Magazine that Liverpool were his only English club. But one of the greatest regrets will also be that the three-and-a-half year relationship between Merseyside and arguably the planet's greatest forward coincided with a period of huge mismanagement at the club's executive level. The mistakes and broken promises of former co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks left the five-time kings of Europe on the brink of administration and incapable of fulfilling potential.
It is not a time to wallow in melancholy. Reports suggest that Torres' representatives had been touting their client around Europe for the past 12 months and it would be naive to think otherwise. Barcelona and Real Madrid are both understood to have been approached, while Manchester City were interested before opting to pay Wolfsburg £27m for Edin Dzeko. It will be interesting to see who proves the best value.
Transitional period
In a way it is ironic that Liverpool are now on the receiving end of Torres' selfishness. There has obviously always been a capitalist influence on the transfer market and it is folly for shirt-burning Merseysiders to call foul having benefited from their status as a stronger club, signing players from less-illustrious rivals, in the past. That is what has happened with Carroll and Suarez. It is the way that it works. Torres, though, has proved in the past that it is not only scoring goals for which he has form. He said in his 2009 book, 'El Nino': "I always wanted to stay at Atletico Madrid because there's no place like home. But when I analysed my career coldly, there was no escaping the fact that my best years would coincide with a transitional period at Atletico as they sought to get back to where they once belonged."
A failure to qualify for the UEFA Champions League last season and the rebuilding process under Liverpool's parent company, Fenway Sports Group, means the 'period of transition' now applies to Liverpool. There is no doubt that Torres had a connection with the club, the city and the culture having immersed himself in the history when first arriving. But he ultimately puts himself first and he was not prepared to bide his time. It was thought that the return of Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish as manager had brought an improvement in focus, performances and determination, however, it now seems that was a conceited, 'remember me?' to Chelsea.
It is intriguing that Torres preferred a move to Chelsea, "one of the top clubs in Europe", in a parting taunt to Liverpool, and that he has targeted the Champions League trophy. The defending Premier League champions are not certain of finishing in the top four this season after hugely disappointing form, hence the drastic action in the transfer market. The signing of David Luiz alongside Torres also seemingly signals a lack faith in what was supposed to be a new British youth policy at Stamford Bridge amid the approaching Fifa Financial Fair Play rules. Tactically, there are issues to address. Will Carlo Ancelotti alter a three-pronged attack that is designed to compliment main man Didier Drogba? Torres is unlikely to accept the secondary role of former Liverpool striker Nicolas Anelka, who, it had been speculated, might have returned to Anfield in a player-plus cash deal.
Initially there was a feeling of Torres-induced heartbreak for Liverpool fans akin to when Gerrard almost left or when Robbie Fowler was sold to Leeds in 2001. But, while some followers have been prepared to show gratitude for the Spaniard's good times, becoming the first Reds player to score 20 league goals in a season since 1996, seven strikes against Chelsea, and glorious results against Real Madrid and Manchester United, the general consensus is that recycling the money for an injury-prone infidel who did not succeeded in bringing trophies to the club was a painful but correct decision.
The whole saga displays the rebuilding task facing FSG, principal owner John W Henry and chairman Tom Werner. The sale to Chelsea, despite the £50m payment, is a business hammer blow for the Americans in terms of Torres' marketing value, age and potential. But the response in signing Carroll and Suarez is a huge statement. Off-field long-term strategies, hinging on the impending appointment of a new chief executive, already existed and they are unlikely to have been drastically altered.
On the pitch, Torres was nowhere near as influential for Liverpool as, probably, the greatest player in the club's history, Gerrard. The former was/is unstoppable when on form, but he will now forever be remembered for his shabby exit from a club who helped him become a star. Liverpool need to quickly move on in body and mind. This could be a kick-start. They are often accused of living off former achievements. It is now time to look to the future. Torres is a huge loss, but he was not committed.
