charles
Graham Fisher
Andrew Aigner-Muehler
LukeS
HardyFernando Torres joins Liverpool
July 5th 2007 05:36
Welcome to Anfield, El Nino!!
Liverpool have signed Spain international striker Fernando Torres for a reported fee of around £21.5 - £26.5 million - beating the previous club record of £14 million for Frenchman Djribil Cisse.
The 23 year-old put pen to paper on a siz-year deal on a reported salary of £90,000 a week and will wear the famous number 9 jersey previously worn by Anfield legends Ian Rush and Robbie Fowler.
The Spaniard leaves La Liga side Atletico Madrid with a record of 82 goals in 214 league games and will be given the responsibility of leading the rather goal-shy Liverpool attack in their quest for a first Premiership title in 17 years.
In his first interview with the club, the Spanish ace expressed his delight in joining the Mighty Reds.
"I am very, very happy. This was the biggest decision of my footballing life but I've come to a winning club. This is a club of champions - one of the biggest there is. I now want to play my part in that and be a champion too and help the club progress."
While I have previously expressed my reservations about this signing due to the lack of success Spanish strikers have had in the English Premier League, this is indeed a significant moment for the English giants.
The enormity of the transfer fee shows that Liverpool are finally able to compete with the 'big boys' in spending big on a single player and it also shows that the new American owners are willing to offer funds for Benitez to build a championship winning team.
The downside in all of this is that the manager is fast running out of excuses to deliver a much coveted Premiership trophy for the five-time European champions.
Will Torres become the next Anfield legend to grace the famous number 9 shirt?
I certainly hope so!
[Source: LiverpoolFC]
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