Liverpool have unveiled new signing Fernando Torres to English reporters at an Anfield press conference on Wednesday afternoon.
The 23-year-old former Atletico Madrid striker joins on a six-year deal, the Reds have confirmed, and he will take the number nine shirt worn by Robbie Fowler last season before he was released.
Liverpool also announced that Torres' transfer fee was substantially less than had been reported in the press over the last few weeks.
The Merseysiders claim they have paid Atletico a total fee of €30 million (£20.2 million), not the £26.5 million that had been speculated.
But the fee still makes Torres Liverpool's all-time record signing, beating the previous record set by Djibril Cisse's £14.1-million move from Auxerre in 2004.
The Spanish international has apparently also taken a pay-cut in order to join Liverpool, effectively rubbishing reports that he would earn close to £100,000 a week.
"I'm pleased to be joining a team with a winning mentality, a fantastic history and a great present-day team," Torres told the press conference through a translator.
"It was important the confidence shown in me by the club and by the manager.
"I know demands and expectations are high here and I know it will take hard work to succeed but I am willing to do that."
When asked how quickly he thinks he will acclimatise to the rigours of the Premiership, Torres explained that Liverpool's current crop of players would help him in that regard.
"Any settling-in process will be made much easier by the fact that there are several other Spanish players here," he said.
"They can give me the benefit of their experience in adapting to the Premiership."
He becomes the 17th player bought by Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez from La Liga clubs after fellow big-money signings such as Luis Garcia, Xabi Alonso and Fernando Morientes also joined the Reds over the last three years.
The 23-year-old former Atletico Madrid striker joins on a six-year deal, the Reds have confirmed, and he will take the number nine shirt worn by Robbie Fowler last season before he was released.
Liverpool also announced that Torres' transfer fee was substantially less than had been reported in the press over the last few weeks.
The Merseysiders claim they have paid Atletico a total fee of €30 million (£20.2 million), not the £26.5 million that had been speculated.
But the fee still makes Torres Liverpool's all-time record signing, beating the previous record set by Djibril Cisse's £14.1-million move from Auxerre in 2004.
The Spanish international has apparently also taken a pay-cut in order to join Liverpool, effectively rubbishing reports that he would earn close to £100,000 a week.
"I'm pleased to be joining a team with a winning mentality, a fantastic history and a great present-day team," Torres told the press conference through a translator.
"It was important the confidence shown in me by the club and by the manager.
"I know demands and expectations are high here and I know it will take hard work to succeed but I am willing to do that."
When asked how quickly he thinks he will acclimatise to the rigours of the Premiership, Torres explained that Liverpool's current crop of players would help him in that regard.
"Any settling-in process will be made much easier by the fact that there are several other Spanish players here," he said.
"They can give me the benefit of their experience in adapting to the Premiership."
He becomes the 17th player bought by Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez from La Liga clubs after fellow big-money signings such as Luis Garcia, Xabi Alonso and Fernando Morientes also joined the Reds over the last three years.
No comments:
Post a Comment