This feeling of emptiness on the day when we broke the bank to sign Luis Suarez for a record fee of £22.8M.
Yesterday was a historic day in Liverpool’s illustrious timeline. And yes, that still rings true. It’s historic in the sense that one of our best ever players stabbed us in the back and did the unthinkable.
That overshadowed another historic moment, where us fans were supposed to be rejoicing over the capture of Luis Suarez – a big name that has eluded us for some time. No one is rejoicing now.
When Chelsea started putting together a bid for Torres at £28M, most of us remained bullish. Sadly, in this world intoxicated with riches, all heads get turned in the face of dizzying offers.
Football lies.
As I stare across my faint-blue desk, I can’t help but notice youthful gleams of those eyes. His hands tucked, his posture slouched, coupled with a glistening grin. Superimposed on the side was the Liverbird – envisioning that he was born to be with Liverpool.
We all thought he had this unmistakable, unique bond with all fans. That bond was broken yesterday. Personally, I felt as if I just lost a best friend.
He broke the hearts of all fans’ worldwide, young and old, by submitting a written transfer request to force a move to Chelsea. In the face of adversity, Liverpool stood strong. They laid down the marker and assumed their authority on the player – as if telling Torres – you’re not bigger than the club.
Torres, after all, is just an employee of Liverpool Football Club.
I can understand Torres’ intentions for being disillusioned, disconnected. Everyone has felt that way since the rot set in 2 years ago. Yet when everything just started to click into place, he dropped a bombshell.
A myriad of why’s popped up in my head.
Whatever that developed in the past 24-48 hours is illogical. All fans can understand a desire to leave the club given the current malaise (which we have not quite recovered from yet).
Yet what baffles me most is the timing of the request, and the choice of destination.
Firstly, submitting a request with just less than 4 days to go before the transfer window slammed shut in clubs’ faces just screamed of self-centredness. He put his personal desires and needs ahead of his duty to fulfil his contract and serve the club for the duration stipulated in the agreement.
No one can bury their faces in the sand and pretend as if nothing had happened. What is as clear as daylight told me that Torres has decided that he is too big for this club and chose a time ‘perfect’ to submit a request. It stinks of disloyalty, respectfulness, and a sense of irresponsibility.
After all, there he was just 19 days ago, committing his future to the club. Lies.
Secondly, his choice of destination is Chelsea. Where do Chelsea exactly stand in the League? Oh, a miserable 4th for the Champions last year – with their hopes for the title evaporating with each passing game. Their immediate priority now only remains in Champions League qualification for next season, with Tottenham hot on their heels.
Truth to be told, Chelsea’s rebuilding job is as big as Liverpool’s. Lampard, Drogba, Anelka, Terry, Malouda are all in their 30s and the Russian who bankrolls Chelsea is intent on cutting down spending as his footballing interest is on a rapid decline.
We have another set of owners who are doing everything, both in the short-term and in the long term to navigate Liverpool to rule England once again. The amount of hours and work they put in 24/7 for the Club is immeasurable – they are driven, determined and are hungry for glory.
Is Torres’ mind overruled by his agent who is just desperate for a payroll to buy himself a massive bungalow which sits next to Roman Abramovich’s jet? Or what?
No one really knows. What I’m certain of however, is that Torres is throwing in the towel and giving up hope on Liverpool as a club capable of living up to his expectations.
No bother. No player is bigger than the club. The club rides the good times and the bad times with the fans – no one player is really ever loyal.
While Chelsea are certain to up their offer for Torres to a valuation of £35M, with a £5M Daniel Sturridge thrown into the package, therein lies a massive question.
Is it time to let him go?
For me – he has put his reputation at Liverpool in tatters. He has torn all his goals for Liverpool up. He will never regain the affection he once enjoyed from the fans in The Kop.
His heart is turned. There is no point in keeping a player whose heart lies elsewhere now.
If he wants to leave, then do one and go on. All we can do now is to milk every penny out of Chelsea’s transfer coffers and make sure we end up £50M richer – we could buy up to 3 quality players up to £16M with that.
And my final message for Torres is.
The club doesn’t fight for you to play. You fight to play for the club.
Twitter @redsonfire