Retiring Torres Names His Best Ever Teammate

By Max Wise

Fernando Torres has named former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard as the best player he has played alongside as he prepares to bid farewell to football.

Torres announced on Friday he will bowing out of the game at the age of 35 with current Japanese outfit, Sagan Tosu, his last club.

Torres played alongside some of the best players in football at both national team and club level, winning numerous trophies in a decorated career.

Torres lined up with the likes of Andres Iniesta, Xabi Alonso, David Villa and Xavi Hernandez in the colours of La Furia Roja while he counts Frank Lampard, Eden Hazard and Didier Drogba among his mates at club level but it is former Liverpool skipper, Steven Gerrard, who he holds in the highest regard.

Gerrard and Torres played together for Liverpool for three-and-a-half years at Anfield and developed a telepathic understanding on the pitch that yielded many goals for the pair.

Although Torres, who scored 81 goals in 142 games for Liverpool, has no trophies to show for his exploits at Anfield, he still rates Gerrard as the best player he has ever played with.

"I always say the best player I played with is Steven Gerrard," Torres told reporters.

"I found he was the player who completed my game. I think my level got into a different dimension when I was on the pitch with him

"It was an amazing three-and-a-half years playing alongside Steven and I would love to go back to those days - even for one minute."