London: Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf has claimed that the club may have paid too much for Fernando Torres, stating that the Spanish international is not good enough for the the Blues.
The former Liverpool man moved to west London in January for £50 million but has suffered a torrid start to his Stamford Bridge career, hitting only one goal in 23 games for his new club.
The Spaniard performed well and made both goals in the 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in midweek but Leboeuf, who played for Chelsea between 1996 and 2001, has said that the striker is not good enough to be called a star at the club.
Speaking to the Daily Star, the Frenchman said: "Nowadays we make somebody a star because they play well for six months.
"I think the problem is that we make somebody into a star who doesn't deserve to be called a star. You have to show for three or four years at the top level that you are a star. Didier Drogba is a star, John Terry is a star.
"They've been playing for years at the highest level. Torres was at home when he was at Atlético Madrid and he did well at the start at Liverpool.
"So is he a star? I don’t know – and if Torres is not a star, maybe Chelsea paid too much for him and he’s not good enough for them. So far that’s what it is."
The 1998 World Cup winner also suggested Torres is struggling because he is no longer the focal point of the team, unlike when he was playing at Anfield and boyhood club Atletico Madrid.
He said: "This is the first time he finds himself at a club where he is not the main player. At Liverpool they were playing for him, at Atletico Madrid as well.
"Chelsea don't. They're not playing for him. He has to find his space. Maybe he struggles with that. There are other players there and they are all stars.
"He's a nice guy, he is able to do it but it’s all in his mind. That's the difference between a big player and an average player. It's all up there. If you’re not hungry and angry, you’re done."
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