Liverpool wrap up record Torres transfer

Bellamy likely to make way as Spain striker arrives at Anfield
Fernando Torres
Torres is finally unveiled as a Liverpool player. Photograph: Keith Williams/Action Images

Fernando Torres today completed his move from Atlético Madrid to Liverpool after signing a six-year contract.

The striker, understood to have cost a club-record fee of £26.5m, passed a medical at the club's Melwood training ground yesterday. He briefly flew back to his homeland to say an emotional goodbye to fans in Madrid before arriving back on Merseyside today to complete the formalities of the transfer.

"I'm very happy to be joining the club," said Torres, speaking through an interpreter. "It is a fantastic opportunity to be joining one of the best clubs in Europe with a fantastic history. You don't get opportunities like this every day of your life. When you hear a club like Liverpool is interested in you it is something that fills you with a lot of surprise and a lot of pride."

Torres insisted he was ready to work extremely hard to live up to his high price tag. "The figures that have been mentioned are bound to bring an added pressure, but when you sign for a club like Liverpool you've got to bear pressure," he added. "I know the demands are high but I believe in hard work and think I can work hard to fulfil those expectations."

The Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez has hinted Craig Bellamy will be the striker to pay the price for Torres and Andriy Voronin arriving at the club this summer, rather than Peter Crouch. Asked if the Welshman would be leaving, Benitez replied: "Possibly. We have some clubs asking about him and it's a possibility. The only thing I can say is that Crouch will be staying with us. I have said to Crouch that he must fight for his position and he will stay with us."

The Atlético president Enrique Cerezo paid tribute to his outgoing skipper, who has been the team's top scorer for the past five seasons. "In the name of the whole club I want to give recognition to one of the great players that has passed through this club," said Cerezo. "In the seven years since he broke into the first team he has given everything for this club and become an icon. His commitment, guts and love of the club colours are an example to everyone, especially the young players who want to follow in his footsteps."