MX23RW : Friday, February 7 06:02:34| >> :120:36499:36499:

Rafael Benitez: 'Fernando Torres unlikely to join Newcastle United'

Benitez: 'Torres unlikely to join Newcastle'
© Offside
Rafael Benitez admits that Fernando Torres would be an "attractive" option for Newcastle United this summer but believes that signing the forward would not be easy.

Rafael Benitez has admitted that signing Fernando Torres would be an "attractive" option for Newcastle United this summer but is unsure whether the striker would be interested in joining the Magpies.

Torres is a free agent following his departure from boyhood club Atletico Madrid after Wednesday night's Europa League triumph over Marseille.

Benitez has worked with Torres before, bringing the 34-year-old to Anfield in 2007 and also managing him at Chelsea during the 2012-13 season.

"I think it will be harder for him to come, not because we don't want to," Benitez told Marca.

"I don't know what's going on in his head, but maybe he is thinking about something else. It would be attractive, but I don't think it would be easy.

"At Liverpool he was sensational. Then he went to Chelsea and, although he had a bad time when he arrived, he was essential for us in winning the Europa League."

Celtic have also been linked with Torres, as well as a number of clubs from the MLS and the Chinese Super League.

ID:326314: cacheID:326314:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2061:
Written by
Giuseppe Labellarte
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez reacts during his side's Premier League clash with Liverpool at St James' Park on October 1, 2017
Read Next:
Benitez 'demands £100m funds from West Ham'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool23175156213556
2Arsenal24148249222750
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest24145540271347
4Chelsea24127547311643
5Manchester CityMan City24125748351341
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle24125742291341
7Bournemouth24117641281340
8Aston Villa2410773437-337
9Fulham249963632436
10Brentford24103114342133
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton248973539-433
12Crystal Palace247982830-230
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd2485112834-629
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs24831348371127
15West Ham UnitedWest Ham2476112946-1727
16Everton236892328-526
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2454153452-1819
18Leicester CityLeicester2445152553-2817
19Ipswich TownIpswich2437142249-2716
20Southampton2423191854-369


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!