Ex-Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has claimed that Fernando Torres played a massive part in the transfer of Raheem Sterling to Liverpool.
The winger was just 16 when the Merseyside club tried to sign him up and Benitez says he was showing the youngster around Melwood, the club training ground, when they bumped into star striker Fernando Torres and captain Steven Gerrard.
Liverpool were trying to convince Sterling to leave QPR, for whom he was playing whilst still at school and Benitez claims he is in no doubt that Torres helped seal the deal and bring the promising teenager to Anfield.
The manager, now in charge of Napoli, told The People: ‘We invited Raheem to Melwood and had a meeting with him and his mother.
“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.”
By Phil Wellbrook
