Spanish clubs can't match English, says Torres

Big-spending Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona are still no match for English Premier League sides, Liverpool striker Fernando Torres said yesterday.

The 25-year-old Spaniard believes La Liga can still learn much from English football despite the large sums of money being spent by them this summer.

"English football has an enormous following across the world, not just because of the players but because of its history, its tradition, the excitement, the capacity crowds," Torres, who spent six years in the Spanish top flight with Atletico Madrid, told Liverpool's website.

"The other leagues can learn a lot, even La Liga. Madrid have signed Kaka and Ronaldo, and Barcelona have Xavi and Messi but, really, the Premier League is way ahead."

The Spanish international insisted that the only thing that interests him is winning trophies.

"A player wants to be remembered for what he has won, for what he has given his club," he said.

"Ten years after you stop playing you want to have medals, trophies. You may have a fantastic car and home but it's not the same."

And winning the Premier League with Liverpool would be up there with winning Euro 2008 with his countrymen.

"Winning the league here would be like winning the European Championship with Spain last year," said Torres, who is starting his third season at Liverpool and feels completely at home in the city.

"It's because Liverpool is a working city. At the weekend people go to watch their team at Anfield and watch the best team in the country," he added.

"I had a lot of offers from a lot of clubs but I was always attracted to Liverpool because of the reputation of the people from the city, the club's supporters and their history, and I wanted help make this one of the greatest clubs in the world again."