Fernando Torres: If Rafa Benitez is too slow, I'll leave Liverpool (for £70million)

By John Edwards

Deadline set: Torres (left) wants no distraction as he gets ready for the World Cup


Fernando Torres was anxiously awaiting news of Rafa Benitez’s meeting with
Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton last night after deciding he wants his uncertain Anfield future resolved in the next week.

Liverpool’s record £21million signing is in demand after it became clear Anfield bosses may have to cash in on him, with Chelsea, Manchester City and Barcelona all waiting for any encouragement to open a bidding war that could send the fee soaring to £70m.

While Benitez presented his argument to Broughton over why any proceeds should go towards strengthening his squad, rather than servicing the club’s debt, Torres was agonising over his next move.

Alarmed at the way Liverpool’s campaign has petered out and left them lagging behind their main rivals, he wants answers on whether Benitez is staying and evidence of a strategy to guard against any repeat of this season’s failings.

Eager to avoid any unwanted distractions ahead of next month’s World Cup, he has made it clear he needs to know Liverpool’s intentions before he leaves Merseyside next week, in readiness for linking up with the Spain squad. He may be prepared to tolerate one more season without Champions League football but is ready to move on, should Liverpool deem a £70m offer too good to turn down.

Chelsea remain keen, as revealed in Sportsmail earlier this week, though City’s hopes appear to have been dashed by the 1-0 defeat by Tottenham.

Liverpool issued a statement last night that appeared to cast further doubt on the prospects of Benitez leaving to take over at Juventus. It claimed the talks, attended by managing director Christian Purslow as well as Broughton and Benitez, had been ‘constructive’ but added it was only the first of a series of planned meetings.


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With Juventus wanting an answer from the Liverpool boss by the start of next week, they may finally abandon their pursuit of him and turn to alternative targets, such as Fiorentina’s Cesare Prandelli.

Jamie Carragher, meanwhile, explained why he was happy to shelve negotiations over his future until the start of next season, even though, by then, he will have less than a year to run on his contract.

The 32-year-old defender said: ‘I understand that, at my age, you can only make decisions season on season.’


source: dailymail