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Fernando Torres has declared that he’d pay to play alongside Steven Gerrard again and believes that the former Liverpool captain was streets ahead of any other team-mate he’s experienced in his career.

Given that Atletico Madrid’s ex-Reds striker was part of the all-conquering Spain side that won two European Championship finals and the World Cup, that’s quite an accolade.

Torres’ international colleagues have included the likes of Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos while at club level he’s appeared alongside Sergio Aguero, Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, Eden Hazard and Antoine Griezmann.

However, the 33-year-old, who first arrived at Anfield a decade ago this July, cites his Reds skipper as the best of the lot.

Speaking to Football Focus, Torres said: “He was everything I need on the pitch, all in one player!

“I was a big fan of Stevie before I went to Liverpool, but playing with him was much better than expected.

“He was by far the best player I have ever played with and I would pay to play with him again.”

Torres left Liverpool empty handed after three-and-a-half years at the club but be part of the Chelsea squads that won the FA Cup and Champions League in 2012 and Europa League the following year after his £50million move to Stamford Bridge.

The fact that Gerrard – who twice came close to joining Chelsea himself – never won the Premier League is a source of regret for Torres, whether he was alongside him or not.

He said: “I felt so sorry for Stevie because we didn’t have chances to win the Premier League, and Liverpool was so close [in 2014] after so many years.

“It was really unfair on Stevie because he is the person who deserves to win the Premier League and you know in one second, everything has changed.”

The interview will be shown in full this Saturday on BBC One from 12 noon.