da dobrowin： If I said to you a few weeks ago that Fernando Torres would join Chelsea in the January transfer window, you probably would not have believed me. The Liverpool striker had always shown signs of loyalty and gratitude in playing for such a prestigious football club with some of the best fans in the World. However, a transfer request by Torres and a few improved bids by Chelsea saw a record transfer fee in British football as Torres was sold for £50 Million.
da brdice： It’s no secret that Torres’ performances for Liverpool this season have been below par for a player of his standard, however, he did not look like the same world class striker we know during the World Cup for Spain either. He had been struggling to find his form after coming back from injury and with the growing pressure on Liverpool with Roy Hodgson’s poor start – it seemed a big uphill battle for Torres. With Hodgson’s departure and Dalglish’s appointment, Torres looked like he had more urgency and many people credited King Kenny’s man management skills. However, it’s important to note that his change in form came at the same time the transfer window opened which suggests Torres may have been waiting for his opportunity for a move away.
Ex Liverpool players Phil Thompson and John Aldridge have branded Torres as a mercenary, saying he has just gone for the bigger wage. It wouldn’t be the first time a player has done this to a club, in particular Liverpool, remember when Michael Owen moved to Real Madrid despite his Liverpool past going back to the youth set up. Perhaps, non-Liverpool fans can understand Torres wanting away from the club that have been in free fall for the last 18 months. A player of his ability will want to play in the Champions League every season and his move in the January window will see him play in the biggest club tournament in football in a matter of weeks. Can you blame him?
Yes you can, considering the timing of Torres’ transfer request towards the end of the transfer window caused a shock around Anfield for a player that, despite performances, seemed happy and content to stay at the club and help them get back into the top four of the Premier League. It was a selfish move that put Liverpool in a position to only accept and say ‘yes’ – ironically just like Andy Carroll at Newcastle which the whole Torres situation caused.
In recent history we’ve seen other top players do the same like Emmanuel Adebayor at Arsenal and even more famously Nicolas Anelka when also at the Gunners. This season, Wayne Rooney handed in a transfer request back in October that shocked Manchester United – whereas United and Rooney’s future have been resolved, it’s another sign of a player making a u-turn on a club he’s committed to. Player contracts might be signed for three, four or five years but if they decide they want away then there is just no stopping them.
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