Former Liverpool forward Fernando Torres is reportedly taking the Spanish Government to court due to damages incurred over the Covid-19 pandemic.
Torres made several investments after hanging up his boots back in 2019 and currently owns a chain of gyms branded 'New Fitness'. And now, according to El Confidencial, via Football Espana, the World Cup winner is keen to recoup losses his business made due to ‘disproportionate and intense’ measures imposed by the Spanish government and Madrid council.
The report claims that Torress’ chain of gyms had reached £86,000 in profit prior to the pandemic before safety measures were introduced; however, once those measures were introduced, those profits fell to around a €200k loss the following year.
The former Liverpool forward wants to see his company reimbursed for their losses, and, according to El Confidencial (via Diario AS), Torres’ case has now reached the Supreme Court after it was rejected by the local justice system.
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The Spaniard was beloved during his time at Anfield after signing for the Reds from Atletico Madrid in 2007, scoring 81 goals in 142 games in a three and a half-year spell with Liverpool. But a £50m move to Chelsea in January 2011 made him public enemy number one among Liverpool supporters, leaving the club after the turmoil of Hicks and Gillett ownership and subsequent sale to Fenway Sports Group.
He'd later return to Atletico Madrid before retiring after a stint in Japan, while building bridges with Liverpool fans with an appearance in a friendly at Anfield in 2015 and returning as manager of Atletico Madrid's youth team.