Villa On Torres' Departure

Fernando Torres' Spanish teammate David Villa has sympathised with his plight while at Liverpool. Villa moved to Barcelona for a fee in the region of €40m in search of trophies this season and can relate to his teammates desire to play for a team that regularly challenges for silverware and qualifies for the Champions League every year.

He said "When you are not involved and you have to watch the matches on the television you feel that you are one rung down on the ladder from everybody else. It's the biggest club competition in the world and you don't enjoy your season anywhere near as much when you are not in it.

"I've been through it myself. Last year I didn't play Champions League football and your season is not complete. Fernando is a player who needs to be playing in the Champions League. He is one of the top forwards in the world and he needs to be in a team playing at the highest level.

"It is very difficult to be watching these games on the television year after year. I understand the criticism he received because everybody has their heart in their club but you have to see it from Fernando's point of view as well. I'm just really pleased that he is happy now."