Torres: An Intimate Portrait of the Kid Who Became King

Chapter 1
Liverpool’s Number 9
     
    Thoughts and reflections from the Kop
    ‘I love him. He’s great. For someone from Spain, he embodies everything we want from our Liverpool players. I mean, obviously, we’ve got Gerrard and Carra who represent the spirit of the club but he’s stepped into the Liverpool history and culture like he’s been there all his life.’
Sarah
     
    ‘He was a Red long before he played for us.’
Dave
     
    ‘He’s basically a legend. He’s such a great guy. If I could have his babies I would.’
Archie
     
    ‘He’s the boy isn’t he? Class, absolute class.’
Frank
     
    ‘There was scepticism about how many goals he’d score here but in his first season he got 33. He’s also a very humble man so he’s very popular.’
Paul
     
    ‘He’s one of the best strikers in the world.’
Ryan
     
    ‘He’s an English striker isn’t he?’
Peter
     
    ‘It’s not just that he’s a very good striker. He works really hard, he defends from the front. He chases down a lot of defenders and
doesn’t give them time on the ball which makes it easy for the rest of the team.’
James
     
    ‘He’s one of the best players we have. He’s probably far more skilful than any goalscorer we’ve ever had in Owen, Rush, Fowler …’
Dennis
     
    ‘His physicality is suited to the English game but it’s more to do with his personality and his character for me. He’s a totally great lad. He’s down-to-earth, working class, same as us (from Fuenlabrada, and it’s quite similar to a lot of places in Liverpool), so we’ve really taken to him and he’s really taken to the fans as well. If you see him in the street, he’s happy to talk to people.’
Bessie
     
    ‘He’s unique. Under Benítez, he’s getting into space better and found a different dimension to his game’.
Neil
     
    ‘He’s a fantastic player – good movement, he’s quick. Quick with his feet, quick with his mind. He’s a great goalscorer. He’s got a good empathy with the crowd. He’s very well-liked.’
Chris
     
    ‘He’s a god. It’s what he brings to the team. A different dimension.’
Franco
     
    ‘I think he’s probably the best thing since sliced bread. Absolutely amazing.’
Sam
     
    No one at Anfield refuses to answer questions about El Niño. There are still two hours to go before the match gets under way but there is already a big buzz around the historic stadium. Scarves, party hats, flags and red shirts are everywhere, with people going this way and that. A man holds his son’s hand in the queue to enter the club museum and admire the Liverpool trophies. Others slip into the Reds’ souvenir shop, take up positions near the main stand entrance to see the players come in, pose for a typical photo in front of the Bill Shankly statue, desperately search for a ticket to see the game (despite constant PA announcements that the match has long been sold out), wait for old friends, ask which entrance to go in by, buy last-minute match programmes and give up any hope of entering The Albert (the pub right next to The Kop, opposite the new Hillsborough Justice Campaign Shop on Walton Breck Road), a heaving mass of bodies, noise, songs and pints. Red is the overwhelming colour but rumours are that is because it’s full of Norwegians and other ‘out-of-towners’.
    And standing in the pub doorway is Jan, a fan who has indeed come all the way from Bergen in Norway just for the game. He steps outside for a cigarette. What does he think of Torres? ‘He’s young, he’s got the speed, the ability. He’s got everything. He’s popular because of his attitude, the way he presents himself. He’s very young but also very mature. He shines a kind of charisma that people adore.’
    An English friend, Robert, butts into the conversation to give his opinion: ‘We like his humility. We like the way he loves Liverpool Football Club. He’s not one of these players who just signs up for the money. He’s got a genuine love of Liverpool Football Club and that’s reflected in the supporters who actually love the man. You’ll see Torres tattoos, Torres shirts, banners.
    ‘Everything’s for Torres because he’s for the club, which this club hasn’t had for a long time, since your Ian Rushes or your Kenny Dalglishes. He has his own songs. He’s one of us. When he hears his name sung, his heart beats. He wants to play for the club. You don’t get that very often in the modern game.’
    Gus reinforces the message: