Review
‘Torres has already achieved legend status at Liverpool’ Jamie Carragher
Product Description
Fernando Torres is one of the hottest properties in world football. From local Madrid idol to Kop hero and European Championship winner, he talks here for the first time about the unique challenges faced in his two seasons in England, with candid snapshots of his early years in Spain and life in the North West on and off the field.
At the age of 25, Spain’s Fernando Torres has already established himself as one of the Liverpool greats and a proud wearer of the fabled No 9 shirt.
His first book, framed within 25 pivotal themes of his life, provides a captivating illustrated story of his career to date, alongside revealing insights into his formative years in Madrid, as a child football prodigy and lifelong fan of local club Atletico.
Nicknamed ‘El Nino’ (The Kid), Torres opens up about life on the streets besides Atletico’s Vicente Calderon stadium, signing for the club at aged 15 and appointed club captain by 19, becoming, as one local journalist put it, ‘one part folk hero, one part native son, one part messiah.’
When Liverpool broke their club transfer record to bring Torres to Anfield in July 2007, it proved the turning point in his career. Competing in the goldfish bowl of the English Premier League, settling into the North West and playing alongside Liverpool heroes like Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, in the company of Spanish team-mates Pepe Reina, Xavi Alonso and Albert Rieira, and performing in front of the Kop who quickly adopted him as one of their own – Torres describes what it means to him to play on one of the greatest stages in world football, and compares and contrasts life in Spain with his new career in England.
Away from the football, Torres talks about life out of the spotlight with his family and close friends, and what inspires and motivates him.
FAMOUS FOOTBALL PLAYER TORRES.
The Independent’s Story On Rooney Is Nonsense
January 7, 2012 333 Comments
The Independent
has run a story today which claims that Wayne Rooney and Sir Alex
Ferguson have fallen out which has lead to the striker looking for a
move away from the club, again.Acting quickly, in a statement issued last night by the club and Rooney’s agent, Paul Stretford, it was confirmed that Rooney has no intention of leaving United.
“Manchester United and Wayne Rooney have been made aware of the theme of an article in tomorrow’s Independent newspaper. We have not seen the detail but can assure all United fans that the Manager and the Club are committed to Wayne Rooney and Wayne is committed to the Manager and the Club. The player and the Manager have always had and retain the utmost respect for each other and look forward to working together in the coming seasons. Any suggestion that Manchester United and Wayne Rooney are to part company is complete nonsense.”
Rooney supported this statement on his Twitter account, saying: “The independent are talking absolute rubbish my future is with Manchester United and the club and I are totally commited to each other. The manager and I have no issues and anyone who says different don’t know what they are talking about.”
His wife Coleen supported this on Twitter: “Haha!! Rumours, rumours, rumours!! And newspapers up to there same old tricks! Chatting it as usual! Get better sources!”
The journalist behind the story, James Lawton, was interviewed on Radio 5 Live last night. A few drinks in to his Friday night, Lawton quickly back-peddled on his story, slurring his words for added comedy value.
“The point I’m trying to make in the story, and I think it’s a valid one, is that there is a real problem in the relationship between the Manchester United manager and his star player,” he said. “I stand by the essence of what I’ve said in that there is a problem. Ferguson is famous for asking for trust and loyalty in his players and when that breaks, it can have a lasting effect. But if Rooney starts to perform to the level of consistent professionalism, which is a reasonable expectation, perhaps the crisis will pass.”
333 Comments
Unbelievable bastard! He admits it was all conjecture, and therefore his conclusion was a lie.
What a despicable anti-United lying bastard James Lawton has proved to be.
SmH…..
Giles Oakley; you being a former broadcaster…. do you know of this sham journo…..because could there not be some sort of recourse as Lawton has slandered our club and needs to be brought to book
Also, Can the scousers stoop any lower? Answers on a postcard please!
Anyway, this has nothing to do with the Independent’s nonsense, but I wouldn’t rule out a Rooney sale over the next 2 years.
If that stuff is all true I can fully understand why Ferguson might have lost patience with him: indeed if its true and Fergie is having to back down to keep our “prized asset” happy (or is being compelled to do so by the Glazers) it is a horrific insult to the greatest manager in football history.
It could happen … I’m not lying …
It won’t happen … my uncle used to live there …
On a second thought, could it be a ploy to unsettle the club and player as we have a crucial game in less than 30hrs time?
Not a big fan of twitter but would appreciate some of the slander being posted here too. God damn journos
Shouldnt really matter to ManU anyway, hes very over-rated and only performs when he feels like it.
It’s inconceivable that United would sell Rooney in the ‘window’, but long term ‘only God knows…’
There is clearly something wrong with Rooney’s attitude, as shown by the disciplinary measures Fergie felt he had to take, dropping him for the Blackburn match. Even when he returned, Rooney looked out of sorts against Newcastle, looking strangely out of condition and with a poor first touch. I fear Wazza is in the middle of one of his many periodic mediocre phases, and if we are to win anything this year we need him to snap out of it.
Whether Rooney’s relationship with Fergie has irretrievably broken down only time (and future autobiographies) will tell.What is even harder to discern from the outside is the effect of all this on the other players and team spirit. If Rooney did turn up for training the worse for wear in the middle of a crucial series of games, what must kids like Jones have made of it? United were terrific v Fulham and Wigan but then imploded for the next two matches, with an ominous lack of team spirit or inner cohesion. Of course Patrice Evra, the skipper at present has had his own distractions, although his form has improved since the Suarez verdict, but there are undoubtedly questions about leadership on the pitch.
My hope is that Rooney has stared down the barrel again and seen he needs to sort himself out. He’s one of those United players desperate to add an FA Cup Winner’s medal to their collection so maybe ‘the real Rooney’ will turn up tomorrow. He must be kicking himself – or someone else – for his FA swearing ban last year that kept him out of the semi final against City. That defeat now looks something like a tipping point in the power struggle between United and City, and if Rooney had been playing things might have been very different. He owes United something tomorrow, from every point of view. Getting steamed up about a speculative ‘kite-flyer’ article in the Indie only obscures this reality.
Couldnt agree more. Rooney owes us a lot. Costing us the FA cup last year, holding the club hostage, and so on and so forth. I’ve defended him time and time again, esp when drawn with comparisons of RVP and Aguero. But he really needs to start performing and live up to that enormous salary he’s receiving week in and out.
And yes Lebomanc. A loss would toss us out of the FA cup. The 2nd time by City in two consecutive years.
And what if we tie, will there be a replay?
Imo this could have been planned by SAF all the way and would enter a entirely new stage of mindgames. He could have done this to show rooney that he’s not untouchable and that he could come to a point where he’ll cash in on rooney and to top it all NOBODY is talking about our poor run of games anymore and only headlines about rooney and the club denying any rumours.
More clubs than City would fork out Rooney’s wage to have him in their side. Last year and this year. The pantomime 12 months ago was to force Glazer to open his purse, just as I’m hoping the Pogba saga is doing.
Their cheapness has brought us to a threadbare side, brought a stupid “no value in the market” statement when we look for a signing other than a tomorrow gem. We see the annual leech job on our earnings flowing into the coffers of shithead bankers. Why the hell shouldn’t Rooney have a cut. To date he’s been the reason we’re still 3 yards off City.
I have maintained for a long time that Rooney is not “legend” material in terms of holding up the United spirit. I once thought – maybe 4 years ago – that he would eventually lead us to glory and be the fire that this team needed. I still maintained that thought after Ambitiongate in the hope that Wayne can recapture that fire back. But the past two years have convinced me that Rooney will forever remain short of “legend” status – not only with United but as a footballer in general.
Like a former United player who regrets falling out with Sir Alex – read David Beckham – he is too caught up in the publicity and press of being a United and England player. He takes every little talk about him in the papers seriously and is never able to get his head in the right place when required. There are numerous examples of this but the most recent one would be the disastrous performance in the final match of the group stages this season. I still haven’t forgiven him for that.
He shows far too much attitude in certain matches for my liking when other players are working their asses off. Sure, in the right mood and form, Wayne is still the best player we’ve got. But can he produce another season like 2009-10 anymore, I doubt it. He hasn’t been the same player ever since his marriage issues and ambition gate. He does produce the goods from time to time. But, “from time to time” isn’t good enough for Manchester United. With us, he has to do it over 50 odd games consistently if he wants to be considered an all time great and I can’t see him doing that for the foreseeable future.
As for his future, I agree with both Costas and Giles in that I don’t see Wayne being with United till his career is over. If Sir Alex can get a proper setup going with the youngsters we’ve got, then a Rooney sale isn’t as distant a possibility as it was a year ago when SAF went out of his way to keep Wayneboy at the club.
As inspirational as a clown in a funeral.
James Lawton ins’t an ABU muppet — he’s actually one of the better journalists and is one of the few pro-United writers out there. Which makes this latest story all the more odd — either completely out of character — or based on some genuine info.
Actully, the more I read it, the more I hoped it would be true. Rooney is turning into very expensive baggage at the moment, totally deluded with his own self-importance. Put a fucking shift in Wyane. You’re getting a quarter of a million quid a week and you turn up for work pissed, in the middle of the biggest challenge the club has faced in years.
I know you’re more interested in yourself than United — and you’ll never be a legend at the club — but at least show some professionalism you fat fuck.
In all my time supporting Utd there have been very few players who you could say were genuinely Loyal. Gary Neville, Phil, Scholes Giggs Butt Beckham all came through the youth system so their loyalties are 2nd to none. They developed together and became big mates. Not many other names leap to mind regarding Loyalties. Ole Solskjaer is certainly one who didn’t come through our Youth and he is one of the few who leap to mind. Spurs came in for him and Utd accepted their offer, Solskjaer said No I don’t want to go so SAF put the matter to bed.
I always look at the players point of veiw, Rooney is NOT a Utd fan he supports Everton. He did not shit on Everton like so many think, he moved to Utd with the oppotunity of winning silverwear, seeing that his best chance was at Utd. They aways say A player is judged by the ammount of medals he has won in his career.
If Utd hadn’t been winning for the past 20 years, lets say it was even between 4-6 clubs then how many players who we think were loyal would have stayed or even signed in the 1st place. We all loved Roy Keane but he wasn’t loyal to Utd, he gave 100+% but he wasn’t loyal and it proved it in the way he left. I’m not going to talk about all the players we had because I’ll be writing all day so I’ve used examples.
I don’t like Alan Shearer and SAF said he was only interested in money when he tried to sign him. Newcastle fans will tell you different, that it was down to Loyalties and wanting to play for his boyhood club. Bollocks, if Utd had offered him stupid wages like shitty have to offer their players then Shearer would have signed there and then.
I hope I have explained my sentiments well, I’d prefer to explain face to face than write them. I wish I could explain as well as the great Giles Oakley.
That’s more or less what happened with Keane in his last couple of seasons at UNited and that’s what may happen with Rooney. That’s why I wouldn’t rule out a sale. You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become…you know the rest.
If that time comes, hopefully Welbeck will be ready to become the heir apparent.
You can explain it to me at Bolton.
I’ll be slurring mate.
Just about to apply for Arse and Chelscum away. So I’ll explain it to them Cockerneys too.
“Wow, exactly as I left it!”
- Thierry Henry on seeing Arsenal’s trophy cabinet
Anyway I used to love Rooney but now I only put up with him as he’s one of the few talents we have left. I once loved his desire and ambition to win, his fiery temperament and his ability to shrug off everything and give it his all for the team. I really wanted him to become our Captain, at times I think he should of been given that Rio is past it and I personally dont see Vidic as captain material compared to Rooney. I just don’t think Fergie trusts in him after everything thats happened and Fergie just refused to think of seeing Rooney playing for the blue half of the city, so he broke the clubs rule on the wage cap system they once had. Personally I think its just a professional relationship that Rooney and Fergie share now, its not the same as Fergie had with the likes of Ronaldo and other players.
So if it is true that Rooney is looking elsewhere, ie City are prepared to give him more a week than we are, then he can go for all I care.
And Berbatov can go too.
Errrr – actually, he doesn’t. He gets paid on a weekly basis for “services rendered”. And that’s the key point – has he rendered the same level of service each and every week ? [no - he's an "inconsistent" player and he is best-pleased to follow orders] or is UTD (i.e., it’s manager of football operations, SAF) willing to take the rough with the smooth ? [We don't know]
I’m in the Lawton camp on this one – conjecturing is what journalists are paid to do. I’ve never done a statistical analysis but I’d venture to say that articles about MUFC out-number those for any other club by at least 2-1. Similarly, articles about Wayne Rooney no doubt out-number those for any other player – probably by a larger margin. Manchester United FC sell newspapers and any story about the club attracts attention beyond the normal.
James Lawton has great sources – and is, no doubt, sworn to secrecy by them. (Doh !) So, the only thing that’s relevant for an outsider in considering Lawton’s story is to look at SAF’s history of management – he has never been unwilling to pull the trap-door on any player if he thinks that the player is a “big time Charlie” or isn’t pulling his weight or is a distraction to the coherence of the team. In that sense, there’s no sentiment in SAF’s managerial ethos – “I’m behind you win or draw” seems to be the key to understanding why SAF has been a winner for so long, with so many different combinations of players.
The other factor that strikes me as having traction is a consideration of UTD’s available options to “replace” Wayne Rooney. In October/November 2010, neither Chicharito nor DannyTheLad were known performers; since that time both have burst onto the scene and proven themselves to be “UTD quality”. AND THEN there’s the curious case of Dimitar Berbatov – in October/November, 2010, Dimmy was carrying the team in terms of goal-scoring but four months later, when TheWayneBoy regained his mojo, Dimmy was marginalized. YET – and this is what’s “curious” about the case of Dimitar Berbatov – even though Dimmy was marginalized and, seemingly, surplus-to-requirements, he wasn’t sold and he rarely played – in fact, he almost never played when TheWayneBoy was on the field. Why ?
In a conjectural scenario in which TheWayneBoy is sold – where ? (ManShitty, Barcelona, or Real Madrid seem like the only likely options although CSKALondon might be a possibility since they did stump up 50,000,000 GBP for TheLadyBoy) – developments over the past sixteen months have provided SAF with the resources (i.e., Dimmy, DannyTheLad, and Chicharito) to cover Rooney’s departure in the striking department. Indeed, maybe the purchase of Ashley Young’s contract might make sense in such a conjectural scenario – i.e., providing cover as a withdrawn striker.
Of course, any such conjectural scenario is just that – make believe. YET I think we would all do well to be sceptical of public utterances – we’d be foolish to accept the “joint statements” from the parties involved at face value; after all, what else can they say ? And, finally, my guiding principle in such matters is to follow Sherlock Holmes’ advice – reject the impossible and allow for the improbable.
I see the dippers are at it again! Merseyside police investigating an incident involving Tom Adeyemi, the Oldham right back. He was visibly affected by something shouted from the cop which left him close to tears. You’d have thought Suarez would be in an exec box, not the cop!
It tickles me that fans like you keep on bringing up Rooney’s wage, and then his dry runs in front of goal, as if it say “what the hell are we paying him £250k a week for when he’s not scoring?.”
Why is it that you never understand that Wayne Rooney, in himself, does a hell of a lot for Manchester United without even being on the pitch? How much does Rooney earn for Manchester United in terms of merchandise sales? Ever heard of image rights? Why do you think they are so important in negotiations over contracts? If he really makes 250k per week, then thats around £13 million per year… trust me, United make more than £13 million per year from him just being part of the club.
So with your wage argument out of the way, let’s look at Rooney’s form. Alex Ferguson said himself only a couple of weeks back that Rooney’s goal scoring drought was his fault, since he had him on basically midfield duty. At the start of the season, when Tom Clev and Ando were in midfield, Young was on the left and Nani was on the right.. and we had no defensive problems, Rooney was scoring for fun, even bagged back to back hat-tricks.
Then again, in your post, you also said you don’t see Nemanja Vidic as captain material which is an astonishing claim to me. In my mind, Vidic is the ideal captain for Manchester United and a serious contender for the best defender in the world, and its a damn shame he will be out for so long injured. I don’t think I’m alone in my opinion of him either.
It’s very easy for supporters to moan and bitch about players, managers, owners and so forth. The hard part, but the most important part, is getting behind your club, especially in bad times. Manchester United showed this undeniable fact since Munich in 1958 and to the present day. I’m very concerned about how quickly the new generation of United fans are eroding away this basic aspect of support… second guessing the manager who SPOILS them with trophies…. lashing out at players who win those trophies (Berbatov… who was THE difference for United in the 10/11 season)…. demanding that players be bought every time we lose or even bloody draw a game, and so forth. There’s a growing “spoiled little brat” aspect to younger Manchester United fans now when the club really does not need it. Look at the cash City’s owners are willing to part with to buy the Premier League trophy. Remember that Sir Alex is 70 years old and there’s nobody else in the world of football like him. Basically, mate… get behind your fucking team and stop complaining like a spoiled little shit before i give you a few whips of my belt!