Fernando Torres has explained why his three-and-a-half years with Liverpool represented the peak of his powers on the football pitch - and insisted he will proudly be a Reds fan for the rest of his life.
El Niño was a devastating presence at the tip of Rafael Benitez's attack after joining the club from Atletico Madrid in 2007 and scored 81 goals in 142 appearances.
Blessed with searing pace, precise control and clinical shooting, Torres quickly became a modern-day hero for supporters enchanted by his impact on Merseyside.
His rapport with the fans was instantaneous, the Kop bouncing to his very own Anfield song during a debut season in which he netted 33 times, and beyond.