Torres: An Intimate Portrait of the Kid Who Became King

‘Liverpool is very much a working-class city. A player like Torres comes along, plays the same way and connects with the fans and that ethos. The fans love him. He loves the fans. It’s a match made in heaven.’
    There is more in the same vein, this time from Sean: ‘I think he’s got a rapport with the fans. He understands them. He understands the passion. He’s committed. Not only that, he’s technically brilliant. He’s fast. He’s pacey. Whereas, at Atlético Madrid, he was struggling for goals, at Liverpool he’s now the striker and we centre our game on him scoring goals and it suits him perfectly.’
    Round the corner, Ian, who has a stall of fan memorabilia selling everything from badges to flags, gives his view – economically speaking – of the Torres phenomenon: ‘Definitely worth the money, yes, but Gerrard’s still the one.’
    In the club shop, however, they think otherwise. Torres is the top shirt-seller. Inside is Callum, aged ten, closely watched over by his father, who is wearing the Number 9 shirt. They go to every home game. What does Callum think of Fernando?
    ‘It can be frustrating at times when Rafa doesn’t pick him but when he plays he’s a quality player and he knows where the goal is. I like how he can dribble past a lot of players and score.’
    Joanna is sitting on a low wall with some friends, eating a plate of sausage and chips with a plastic fork. She happily breaks off to say what she thinks: ‘What I like about Torres is he’s not just speedy. There’s skill in there as well, his technique is fantastic. So he’s married the two really. He’s got the skill and the physicality. He’s the whole package for me.’
    Alexandra gives a hearty cackle before making her contribution: ‘His best quality – his looks! Look at my hair!’
    A quick glance is more than enough to realise that the Spanish striker is the main inspiration behind her fringe and blonde colouring. And Cecilia adds, with a cheeky grin: ‘We love the Spanish in Liverpool.’
    Right in front, and across the street, is The Park – another pub bursting at the seams. To get inside you have to use your elbows but at the same time try not to knock over the huge number of beers squeezed onto the tables. At the bar, waiting for a pint takes time, but conversation sparks up immediately. The only problem is making yourself heard above the songs, chatter and increasingly animated prematch chanting. It’s a fun atmosphere, with the imposing structure of Anfield clearly visible through the window. When one of the throng, with his military shirt and shaved head, hears the question about Torres, he breaks into song. The scarves move, the beer glasses are held high, everyone dances and claps their hands, singing:
    His armband proved

he was a red

Torres, Torres!!

You’ll never walk alone it said

Torres, Torres!!

We brought the lad from sunny Spain

He gets the ball, he scores again

Fernando Torres – Liverpool’s Number Nine

Na-Nar

Na-Nar-Nar

Fernando Torres – Liverpool’s Number Nine.
     
     
    You have to wait a bit for the noise go down to a level where you can carry on talking. For some time, a group has been gathered round a table stacked with beers of every type. Initially, no one wants to talk, each trying to persuade the other to speak. In the end it’s John, with his coloured serpent tattoos and red shirt, who begins: ‘What I like about Torres is that a lot of foreign players come over to England and take some time to adjust, whereas he’s got stuck in. Defenders tackle him hard, but he can still put the ball back in the net. Brilliant.’
    Eventually, the others pluck up courage to join in. ‘He’s a very unique striker because he can score long-distance goals, tap-ins, he can do anything really. You’ve got to tie him up for a longer contract,’ says Steve.
    Joe, leaning against a doorpost, picks up the same theme, shouting to make himself heard: ‘No matter what happens, he says he’s staying. That’s good. There are too many players these days who are looking elsewhere for clubs but Torres says that Liverpool “is in my heart”.’

Chapter 2
He is a red
     
    4 July 2007
    The photo is unforgettable. On the left, Rafa Benítez, as happy as a sandboy, in dark jacket and white shirt with red stripes, holding up one end of a Liverpool scarf with the words ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ written on it. On the right, holding the other end, is Fernando Torres, wearing the