• Premier League

Liverpool wasted chance for Euro dominance - Torres

ESPNsoccernet staff
February 6, 2011
Fernando Torres felt Liverpool could have been one of Europe's top teams 'for a very long time' © Getty Images
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Fernando Torres has claimed Liverpool's broken promises over the sales of their key players were to blame for his move to Chelsea.

Torres moved to Stamford Bridge in a British record £50 million deal on transfer deadline day and is now set to make his debut against Liverpool. The Spanish striker has spoken at length about the reasons for his decision, but has now revealed that the motivating factor for his transfer was the 'message' sent by selling Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid and Javier Mascherano to Barcelona.

''I said that at that moment, I didn't think I would play for another club - because at that moment Liverpool were giving me what they promised ... but not now,'' he said.

''I think one of the important points is in my first two seasons at the club, they played in the semi-finals of Champions League and finished second in the Premier League, very close to Manchester United.

''Then we were very, very close to being one of the top teams for a long time because everyone was together and everyone was moving in the right direction.

''But when you let Alonso and Mascherano leave, that is a clear message. It was important, not so much for me, but for the club.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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