Torres Issues A 'Money Or Your Life!' Ultimatum
Undulating waves of euphoria were rippling across the Mersey yesterday as Luis Suarez was one step closer to joining Liverpool FC. That soon turned into a raging squall with full force gale winds tearing at the city's inhabitants.
Torres has handed in a transfer request.
A what? A WHAT?!
The poor timing of the request is utterly baffling. Just as we are about to embark on a half season of strong recovery, growth on and off the field, Torres hands the club a recession. Ill advised or selfish, we can't know just yet the motivation around this request, but one thing is for certain, he has shot himself in the foot.
Let's consider his options.
He may go to Chelsea and play up front with Drogba, who is out of contract this season, and other stars who may be getting the chop, according to some sources. That would leave him at another club who are rebuilding. The days of Abramovich excess are coming to an end, he is tightening his belt and buying clever. Risky move.
He may go abroad. We know that Barcelona would be interested in him. To play alongside his good friend David Villa would be a dream move to him. An opportunity to play for the best team in the world shouldn't be dismissed.
He may stay. Was his request bungled? I doubt it. Liverpool may be able to hang onto his services but Torres is looking at what lies over the other side of the cliff. If Liverpool keep his services, will it be like that of Ronaldo at Manchester United? Respectfully waiting a season before departing for alot of money on the back of success? Or will it he like that of Tevez at Manchester City? Holding the club to ransom for more wages, more influence and more headlines? Either way, it's inevitable that he gets what's he wants. Player power indeed.
Is life after Torres really that bad? We have a proven goalscorer on the horizon. Do we really need to break out the kerchiefs and wave off the departing Torres in floods of tears and much gnashing of the teeth? Sure we will miss his goals even though they haven't been flowing this season. We will miss his commitment, even though that has waivered dramatically this season. I think, most of all, we will miss his talismanic presence. That is an unquanitifiable spirit that money can't buy.
The warnings are there for Torres, if he leaves. He will fall into the categories of those strikers who left for a 'bigger club', like Rush, Keegan and Owen. Fresh in the memory is Owen's treachery, leaving purely for money and then playing for our rivals. Keegan left and found no success at Hamburg, his departure also paved way for the greatest Liverpool player of all time, Dalglish. And Rush, who struggled to score at his most prolific best against the tightest of defences in Serie A. These three players should act as a warning to Torres. Barely anyone finds more success away from Liverpool. We are the be all and end all of football spirit. We may not win many competitions but we win enough games to challenge as one of the best teams in the world. We may have fallen from that dizzy perch but we will be back there soon.
Torres can leave, he may find success, but I think one thing he has lost is every bit of respect from his millions of strong, working class supporters who do not forgive disloyalty easily.
So go Fernando, we wish you well but do not think for an instance that we will miss you, there is always another Owen, Rush, Keegan or indeed Torres on the horizon to score goals for the most prestigious club in England.
You'll Never Walk Alone Torres, but at the same time we won't be walking with you.
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