Torres hails former Liverpool team-mate Gerrard as 'best player I played with'

Fernando Torres hailed former Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard as the player who lifted his game 'into a different dimension' as the Spaniard confirmed he will end his 18-year playing career in August.

The former Liverpool and Chelsea striker, who has been playing in Japan for Sagan Tosu since leaving Atletico Madrid last year, announced his decision to retire last week.

Explaining his reasons for hanging up his boots in a Tokyo press conference on Sunday, the 35-year-old was asked to name the player who had made the biggest impression on him.

And Torres, who played at Anfield between 2007 and 2011, said: 'I always say the best player I played with is Steven Gerrard.

'I found he was the player who completed my game. I think my level got into a different dimension when I was on the pitch with him.

'It was an amazing three-and-a-half years playing alongside Steven and I would love to go back to those days - even for one minute.'

Torres said that he wanted to hang up his boots with a 'clear conscience' and before he reached the point where he was unable mentally and physically to continue.

'I have a high demand for myself,' he said.

'I've always wanted to be honest and to perform at the level I think I should and I think the time I will not be able to perform at the level I ask for myself is not far away and I don't want to arrive at the time that I am going on the pitch and I'm not enjoying it.

'I want to put an end before that happens. Knowing my body and listening to my body, I think especially mentally that time is not far away and I want to finish my career in a good way before that happens.'

Appropriately, Torres will play his final match on August 23 against Vissel Kobe, coming up against former Spain team-mates and close friends Andres Iniesta and David Villa.

'To say goodbye to football next to my dear friend Iniesta is something I could never imagine, and Japan is going to make it possible,' he said.

'Also there will be my friend David Villa, with who I probably share the best moments in Spanish football history.

'So to say goodbye to football next to two very good friends - we share too many memories together - will be something great.

'I tried to find an iconic moment to play my final game and I think that is the perfect timing.'

Torres scored the winning goal in the 2008 European Championship final win over Germany and then helped his country win their first World Cup in 2010.

He also won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012, also lifting the Europa League and the FA Cup with the London club.

Torres added another European Championship success with Spain in 2012 and also won the Europa League again with Atletico during his second spell there in 2018.

He also spoke of his plans post-retirement and his desire to work again at Atletico in the future.

'I don't know if it will be coaching or managing. I will study both things,' he said.

'I'm sure it will be something related to football because it's been my life and it's where I think I can offer more things.'

Speaking of his hometown club, Torres added: 'Atletico Madrid is my life, so probably we will connect some way in the future but not immediately.

'I will not be back to just be a face... if I go back it will be for big things, to take the club to the next level.

'That needs time. I don't have the experience, the knowledge of managing, I need time to prepare myself for the biggest challenge.'