Torres’ 2009 comments about Rafael Benitez are quite encouraging

Follow us on Google Discover

Newcastle United have been linked with Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres in the January transfer window.

Fernando Torres has been linked with a move to Newcastle United in the January transfer window, with The Mirror recently claiming that the Magpies have been put on alert by the Spanish striker’s desire to leave Atletico Madrid.

Torres is struggling for playing time at Atletico at the moment, with the Madrid outfit also not having a great season in La Liga or in Europe.

The 33-year-old striker has failed to reignite his career since returning to Los Rojiblancos, and although there have been some flashes of brilliance, it is clear that for the La Liga outfit to progress and return to their best, the former Liverpool striker is not the answer.

Newcastle need a proven goalscorer to keep them in the Premier League, and one can understand why the Magpies would be interested in Torres.

Rafael Benitez worked with the Spain international striker at Liverpool, and it was under the current Newcastle manager that Torrees played his best club football.

Back in July 2009, Torres explained how Benitez got the best out of him and told The Guardian: “Rafa concentrates on the professional side of things. He tries to improve every minor detail and movement you carry out during the course of a game and he also explains the reasons behind his decisions.

“He’s obsessed that you understand what you are doing and why. He’s not happy that you do things just because he tells you that something has to be done. He says: ‘Do it like this. Do you understand why you are being told to do so? No? We’ll go through it again then’.

“I remember when I signed for the club people were questioning me as a goalscorer. I received criticism because I wasn’t getting goals. The first thing he told me was that I was signed to score goals.

“Benitez is adamant that I live in the [penalty] area because that’s where you get goals. That was the first thing he told me, the wing is for the wingers, and that the striker should be focused on the two rival centre-backs.”

Torres is not going to get back to his old Liverpool form, but given his admiration of Benitez and the understanding the pair have with each other, he could well be a good option for Newcastle for the second half of the season and could score them the goals needed to stay in the Premier League.