Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has revealed a £70m deal for Fernando Torres was suggested last year, and that he would like to manage the club again in the future.
Striker Torres joined Chelsea on Monday for a British record fee of about £50m, but he had been valued even higher by the club.
“I think last year we were talking about £70m,” Benitez said in an interview for the BBC’s Football Focus.
“People were talking about maybe you receive an offer from another club. They were talking about £70m.”
Of Torres’ transfer deadline day move to Stamford Bridge, Benitez said: “He was not playing at the same level the last time, but he is still a very good player. It is big money but could [have been] even better.”
Benitez was sacked by Italian side Inter in December only six months after he left Liverpool.
Roy Hodgson was appointed as successor after Benitez’s departure from Anfield, but he only lasted six months before Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish was drafted in until the end of the season.
Benitez said: “To be manager of Liverpool is a dream for me. This time, I know that Kenny is doing really well.
“I have to wait and keep watching games, but if you say to me in the future would you like to be manager, for sure, no doubt about this. When, that is the question. I have to move forward, anyway.”
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