Fernando Torres may have scored over 80 goals for Liverpool, but that hasn’t stopped some fans from voicing their despair over his return to Anfield for a charity legends match next year.
The Spaniard left Merseyside in 2011, signing for club rivals Chelsea in a deadline day move. The transfer left many fans feeling betrayed, not so much by him leaving, but instead by the club in which he chose to move to.
Torres went on to win the FA Cup, as well as the Champions League and Europa League title during his stay in west London, leaving some to question where his true allegiance lies.
Here’s what some fans had to say about the Spaniard’s comment:
“El Nino” is set to return to Anfield on the 28th March next year, as Liverpool legends take on Barcelona in a charity game. But these fans were less than happy when his place in the matchday squad was announced:
“The city, fans and club will always be in my heart.”@Torres has explained why he will proudly be a Reds fan for the rest of his life, ahead of his return to Anfield for #Legends2020 ?
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 29, 2019
Snake
— Nasir (@NasirLFC) October 29, 2019
Weren’t that proud when you handed in a transfer request and forced your way out the club while we were bringing in Suárez as your ‘strike partner’.
— Sam (@SamueILFC) October 29, 2019
For some, the act of leaving Liverpool for rivals Chelsea remains unforgivable:
Gutted when Torres left. He was unreal for Liverpool in that first season. The supporters loved him but I think people understood why he left. It was just Chelsea were the opposite of Liverpool in every way. Couldn’t care less about Suarez leaving, Torres broke me heart.
— Jürgen Meister?? (@SS_LFC) October 29, 2019
Should’ve stayed and cemented your status as a club legend instead of forcing a move to Chelsea. Many fans idolised you but with that decision you burned your bridges with us.
— VorsprungdurchJürgen ???? (@happydobbin44) October 29, 2019
Went to Chelsea. Dead to me.
— Mark Fleming (@markflem_ing) October 29, 2019
What we think
The legacy of Fernando Torres will continue to polarise, but it does seem important to point out how out fondly the Spaniard continues to speak about Liverpool. It is clear that he enjoyed his time there, and as he has previously stated, the move away from Anfield was largely influenced by the stagnation that had infested the club at the time.
While a move to Chelsea of all clubs, did little to preserve his relationship with Liverpool fans, it does only seem fair that Torres should be praised for his contributions to the club, as well as face some criticism for his decision to join the blues – a much-despised rival at the time of his departure.