Fernando Torres may not be the most popular figure amongst Liverpool fans, but former boss Rafael Benitez has revealed the Spaniard played a big part in helping to secure the signing of current star Raheem Sterling.
The 19-year-old is considered by many to be the best young player in Europe at present, and Liverpool fans are grateful to have the youngster on their books.
And Benitez reveals that Torres played a major part in convincing the youngster to sign from QPR, back when he was at the peak of his powers in a red shirt.
‘We invited Raheem to Melwood and had a meeting with him and his mother,’ the now-Napoli manager said.
‘I walked around the complex with them and was showing them the facilities and we got as far as the physio’s room.
‘Fernando was there – and I think Steven Gerrard, too. But definitely Fernando. I explained what Raheem and his mum were doing and I told Fernando what we thought of the young player we had brought in. He had a quick chat with him, asking how he was getting on. He was interested in him.
‘Raheem was really pleased – and you could see his mum was, too – really impressed that the club’s biggest players had made a fuss of him,’ he added.
Sterling went on to sign for the club for £400,000, and whilst Torres became a hate figure at Anfield following his £50million transfer to Chelsea, he may have helped the club in securing one of the best transfer bargains in recent memory.
