Benitez fears Torres might leave Liverpool

(GSM) – Rafael Benitez fears Fernando Torres might leave Liverpool if they fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

“Finishing fourth in the Premier League would mean a lot to Fernando,” said the Liverpool manager ahead of his side’s important home game against bottom side Portsmouth.

“People talk about money with Fernando but I can tell you his main motivation is winning trophies. That is what drives him. That is always the main topic in any discussion between us.

“Fernando’s only thought is to be challenging for honours, it’s all that concerns him. He wants to be playing in the Champions League.”

Benítez’s apprehension regarding Torres’s future can have been only heightened by a weekend interview the Spain striker gave to his country’s AS newspaper.

Torres said Liverpool would continue to “go backwards” unless “four or five top-class players” arrived at Anfield.

In the absence of such investment the former Atletico Madrid striker admitted he might have to consider his future. Torres indicated another Premier League club would be his preferred destination.

“I don’t plan on going back to La Liga for a while,” he said. Careful not to harm the good relationship with the Liverpool fans, Torres added: “I owe Liverpool a lot, I like it here and the people have treated me as one of their own.”

Even so, when asked if he had thought about leaving the club this summer, the 25-year-old hitman said: “It’s too early to talk about that.”

Torres believes Liverpool remain capable of securing fourth place yet harbours rather loftier ambitions. “I want to be competing next year to win the league and the Champions League,” he said. “But that will mean bringing in signings.”