“The Kid” that grew up as a Football player at ATLETICO DE MADRID,
were he was their youngest Captain plus their symbol & masthead, has
grown up into a World Class Sportsman who is reaping in the fruits of his
maturity & talent. FERNANDO TORRES gives a comprehensive &
insightful interview to Spanish Football Magazine “Don Balon” that SFS
would like to grab your attention considering that it´s well worth a read. It’s
in Spanish & SFS will translate to give you some of the highlights. There
are plenty of comments in reference to a speculated interested from Real
Madrid ( via ex-President Florentino Perez), Liverpool, his Club team mates,
Spanish National Team players & Coach, plus his general feelings about
Football – Soccer, for our American & Aussie mates.
Here are a few questions & answers (bold is translated to English)
DB.- El Real Madrid buscará cracks y si llega Florentino Pérez quizá le busque
a usted...
Real Madrid are looking for “cracks” & if Florentino Perez arrives perhaps
he´ll look for you?
-Para mí el Real Madrid no es más que nadie. El Real Madrid es como el
Barcelona, el Milan, el Bayern, el Inter... un equipo grande más. No me llama
la atención, sino más bien al contrario por mi pasado rojiblanco.
For me Real Madrid isn’t bigger than others. Real Madrid is like Barcelona,
Milan, Bayern, Inter…another big Club. They don’t call my attention, all the
contrary due to my red & white (Atletico) past.
DB.- Florentino Pérez no escuchará de su boca un ‘sí’.
Florentino Perez won’t hear from your mouth a yes?
-Antes le digo ‘sí’ a mi novia en el altar que decírselo a él porque yo no me
veo jugando en el Real Madrid.
Before that I’ll say yes to my girlfriend at the wedding alter, I don’t see
myself playing at Real Madrid.
DB.- ¿Qué ha traído Del Bosque a esta selección?
What has Del Bosque brought to the Spanish National Side?
-En un momento de euforia como el que vivíamos, ha traído tranquilidad...
In an euphoric moment he has brought us tranquillity...calmness...
DB.- Usted tiene a los ‘reds’ entregados, ¿es más ídolo en Anfield de lo que lo
fue en el Vicente Calderón?
You have “The Reds” (fans) totally on your side, your more an Anfield idol
as you were at Atletico
-Es un cariño diferente. En el Calderón no me tuve que ganar ese cariño porque
venía con él por ser de casa, porque sabían que sentía la camiseta al ser de la
cantera. En Liverpool me tenía que ganar el cariño de la gente y, como todo me
fue bien desde el primer día, lo he conseguido. Its a different admiration.
At Atletico I did not have to win the respect of the fans because I grew up
there, they knew I felt the colours being from the junior sides. At Liverpool I
had to win over their admiration & it went well from the first day.
DB.- ¡Hasta le cantan su propia canción!
They even sing you your own song!
-Sí, me siento más importante de lo que me sentía en el Atlético... quizá también
porque hoy en día el Liverpool es un club más grande que el Atlético.
Yes, it makes me feel more important than when at Atletico…perhaps it is
also because Liverpool is a much bigger Club than Atletico as well
The interview continues praising his Liverpool team-mates Gerrard & Reina,
National Team members like Iker Casillas who saved Real Madrid from a goal
feast in the Champions qualifier & talks even about Cristiano Ronaldo & the
rumoured Real Madrid move.
"De cualquier forma, personalmente, yo no veo a Cristiano Ronaldo jugando
pronto fuera de la Premier, y más según está el Manchester ahora, que lo está
haciendo fenomenal"
"Personally, I don’t see Cristiano Ronaldo playing soon outside the Premier,
especially now that Manchester United is doing it all so phenomenally well"
This is just a brief summary of a few questions from the interview where you
can link above on “Don Balon” for the full version. Great interview that shows
his love for Atletico , Liverpool & their fans. It also show a great head on his
shoulders & leadership qualities of a “Kid” that is maturing into a great
Sportsman at Liverpool FC.
