Source: Daily_Mail
My idol Steven Gerrard is the best player in the world, insists Liverpool star Fernando Torres
Fernando Torres believes that Steven Gerrard is the ‘greatest player in the world’.
The Spain striker has insisted in his new autobiography, El Nino, that his Liverpool team-mate is ‘irreplaceable’ and has vowed to help land him a long overdue first ever Barclays Premier League winners medal.
'He is without doubt the greatest player I have ever played with,' said Torres. 'He has everything.
'At Liverpool, he is irreplaceable. Every big club has a standard bearer, a home-grown talent, someone with a lifelong commitment to the cause.
In his book, serialised by the Daily Mirror, he added: 'People come and go but he’s always there. It’s him and 10 others. He’s everything to the side. That’s Steven Gerrard at Liverpool. I can’t even begin to imagine the place without him.'
Torres believes Gerrard is not only a complete player, but also a natural leader who never goes missing in games.
He believes others will soon recognise the Huyton-born star by voting him Ballon d’Or or the FIFA World Player winner.
Torres counts Gerrard and fellow local lad Jamie Carragher as examples to young players coming through the ranks.
He warmly remembers how the pair went out of their way to welcome him following his move from Atletico Madrid and still keeps text messages from them.
'Steve and Carra haven’t had to tell me what Liverpool stands for; I can see it in their game,' he said. 'I have tried to absorb everything I can from the club and the city, to understand exactly where I am and that’s because of them.
'If there is one thing that inspires me about (Jamie) Carragher and Gerrard, one thing that stands out as the key to the way they play, it is their commitment to the cause.'
The 25-year-old sympathises with how Gerrard has to handle the pressure of being the club's captain and figurehead, but sees the England midfielder as an example to follow.
'I would love to be a captain somewhere some day because I think I’ve had the best possible role model in Steven Gerrard.'
