Fernando Torres believes his ex-club, Liverpool conveyed him as a “traitor” following his departure to Chelsea in 2011.
The world cup winner, who became the fans’ choice at Anfield after scoring 65 goals in 102 league appearances for the club, signed for Chelsea in January 2011 for a then-British transfer record of £50m.
Despite the fact that he enjoyed huge personal success in his first three seasons at Liverpool, Torres became worried at the path the club was touring as a potential takeover loomed and sought to have talks with managing director Christian Purslow in the summer of 2010.
Before his departure, he was curious to know if the financial position of the club would be able to survive. However, with some key players beginning to leave, and following the sale of Javier Mascherano to Barcelona soon afterwards, he was left quite frustrated.
Liverpool was sold to Fenway Sports Group in October 2010 while Damien Comolli was appointed as director of football the following month.
“Comolli revealed to me that the new owners (FSG) had a new plan on how to spend their investment,” Torres said.
“Their plan was to bring in young players, to establish something new. It takes two, three, four, maybe even 10 years to see the result.
“I knew I could not fit in to such plan. I was 27 years old. I did not have time to wait. I wanted to win. Here we are five years later and they are still trying to build – around the same position in the league as when I departed.”
Torres admits he did speak to the former boss Kenny Daglish about the possibility of leaving – but insists that was only after the club had begun discussions with Chelsea on his move.