Torres: An Intimate Portrait of the Kid Who Became King

Liverpool supporter. It was a very special day.’

Finally, one more question. It’s out of curiosity more than anything. Was it Michael Robinson who called you ‘The Cat’, or you who called him ‘The Cat’?
     
    ‘I called him ‘The Cat’. He thinks he is a goalkeeper!’
    Bon voyage Mr Souness, and enjoy the final in Rome …

Chapter 32
The same as always
     
    Conversation with Julián Hernández and Ángel Sánchez
    Both of them are wearing their work clothes. A red-and-white-striped shirt and a red tie – the colours of Atlético Madrid. They work as receptionists at the Vicente Calderón stadium. You see them as soon as you enter the old stadium, after the glass door that leads to the management offices. Julián, 24, from Carabanchel Bajo, a neighbourhood of Madrid, has worked here for four years. Ángel, a 25-year-old and also from Madrid, arrived a bit later. They’re both close friends of El Niño. They got to know him by chance. Ángel, who used to play as a striker for Roma Club de Futbol, a junior team based in Ventas near the Plaza de Toros in Madrid, first found himself facing Torres as an opponent but then, thanks to Oscar (who played with him and knew Fer from when they were juniors), joined their group. Julián was a friend of Hugo, who knew Torres through football and ended up being inseparable from his group. They’ve known each other for eight years. And even though Fernando plays in England they have not lost contact. Julián spent two weeks in Liverpool and London, the two weeks in which the Reds played in the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea, so that he could watch both games and be with Fer. Ángel wasn’t able to go … otherwise, who would answer the phones at Atlético Madrid? But he’s promised himself that he’ll go over just as soon as he gets a few days’ holiday. Neither find it difficult to talk about having such a famous friend, who has appeared on the front pages of newspapers around the world. But they’re careful not to say anything that could show him in a bad light. That’s normal, it’s the way close friends are. Seated in the office of Manuel Briñas, they chat about their famous friend’s past and present.

OK, so how has he changed, the boy who began playing for Atlético Madrid and has now conquered the world?
     
    J.H. ‘He hasn’t changed, he carries on being just like he was before. He hangs around with the same people and the same friends as ever. And he continues being very close to his mates. I’ve heard people say he’s a show-off, arrogant and even conceited because he’s successful at Liverpool. But it’s all lies what people say, people who know nothing about him. Fernando is a modest guy and not at all conceited and with us he’s really good company, amusing and has a great sense of humour. He’s always had his head well screwed-on, with a good family behind him, people who look after him well in every sense, and good friends who for a long time have been genuine mates. Not like those who suck up to you when everything’s fine but disappear if things go badly. And I’m not talking only about the two of us.’
    A.S. ‘With us, he’s the same blond, freckly bloke. A really straightforward and compassionate guy. A true friend. We can go for months without talking and then, when we do, it’s as if we’d just seen each other five minutes earlier. Neither the fact that he’s one of the best strikers in the world, nor the money that he earns, have made him behave differently. Fame hasn’t gone to his head either, not like it has with a lot of footballers, who change the people they mix with and their social circle. He’s got the same girlfriend that he had when he was seventeen and the same friends.’
    ‘It’s true,’ says Manolo Briñas, joining in the conversation, ‘when Fernando was here and already an exceptional player, he didn’t go to Los Angeles or Miami on holiday but instead, here in Spain with his fifteen mates. Ángel, you explain …’
    A.S. ‘Yes, every summer we went on holiday for a week or two. I remember we went to Gandía and five years ago to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. Between World Cups and European championships it wasn’t easy to find a gap. We had such a good time and I still remember the smaller kids, who, when they saw that El Niño was part of our group, couldn’t believe it and started swarming around us like flies.’

And Julián, how does he seem to you now, in