Friday, April 17, 2009

Liverpool FC's Fernando Torres Promises Title

Fernando Torres has promised to repay the Liverpool fans who “treat me like one of their own” by delivering the Premier League title.

But despite insisting he wants to remain for “many years to come” at the Anfield club, the Spain star has revealed he will one day return to La Liga.

The 25-year-old has made an incredible impact at Liverpool since signing for £21m in 2007, scoring a record-breaking 33 goals in his first season in England.

And Torres, who is believed to be in the early stages of negotiating a new deal, has revealed how the club’s supporters helped him settle.

“I would love to remain at Liverpool for many seasons to come,” he said. “I feel at home here. I still have this season plus another four years left to run on my contract.

“The club has been brilliant with me and I owe the fans a lot. They took to me as if I was one of their own. They treat me in the same way they do Gerrard or Carragher... it is unbelievable.

“I hope to repay their warmth by giving them a Premier League title because it has been a long time since the club last won the league.

“I do not have a buy-out clause in my contract; you do not get them in England. Both teams have to reach an agreement before a player can leave his club to sign for another.”

Torres also has a view on the continued speculation linking Real Madrid with Ronaldo, whose wonder goal last night sent Manchester United into the Champions League semi-finals only 24 hours after Liverpool went out of the competition at Chelsea after a heroic battle.

Torres said: “I cannot see Cristiano Ronaldo playing outside the Premier League for a while to come; you also have to take into account how well Manchester United are playing.

“Ronaldo is a devil on the pitch, the way he carries the ball towards the opponent’s goal is amazing. I am sure that, if he were to play in Spain, he would get more time on the ball and his individual qualities would stand out even more.

“He could handle playing in La Liga. But I don’t think that it would be any better for him to play there, as the way the game is played in England suits him down to the ground.”

And Torres, an Atletico Madrid icon, dismissed any suggestion he could one day play for Real.

He said: “Real Madrid are not the biggest team in the game. They are a big club but so are Barcelona, AC Milan, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.

“It is not a team that interests me and, because of the time I spent at Atletico Madrid, the opposite could be said. I just cannot see myself playing for Real Madrid.

“In a few years’ time I would like to play in Serie A. I would then have played in the three biggest leagues in European football: Spain, England and Italy.”

Liverpool have to wait until Tuesday for their first chance to get over their European disappointment, when Champions League semi-finalists Arsenal are at Anfield for a crucial Barclays Premier League match.

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