Fernando Torres has warned Steven Gerrard: I want to captain Liverpool.
The Spain striker is a former Atletico Madrid skipper and fresh from netting the winning goal in the Euro 2008 Final against Germany.
But although he has forged a deadly Anfield partnership with Gerrard, Torres now has the England midfielder in his sights.
He has revealed he wants to relieve his team-mate of the role - but knows how difficult it will be because the England midfielder is perfect for it.
Torres told Champions magazine: 'I'd love to be captain one day - Steven has shown me how to be a great leader.
The battle for the armband at Anfield will certainly hot up if and when Gareth Barry and Robbie Keane complete their moves there.
Long-time Aston Villa captain Barry and stand-in Tottenham skipper Keane will add huge experience to the side. He is also Republic of Ireland captain and Benitez will look to them to shine in another season of seemingly endless squad rotations.
But Torres is putting himself at the front of the queue and insisted: 'Rafa Benitez has taught me to demand a lot of myself and never become complacent - and I really admire Steven because I know the pressure he is under every day, everybody talking about him all day long, in changing rooms, in the pubs, in the stadium.
'I've heard people say that he should be stronger, have a stronger personality. And I know from experience how difficult it is to deal with all that. He is at another level of course, because Liverpool is a huge club.
'But I was captain of my team from a very young age and I know everybody was talking about me. I could feel it. I could see it out of the corner of my eye - especially when things weren't going right.
'People look at you from a distance and challenge you with their eyes. All that happens every day to Stevie and he copes with it - he copes with everything that is expected of him all the time.
'He's always under tremendous pressure to perform and everyone looks to him to show leadership, to lift the team.
'He has been a great example to everyone and those of us who have been in a similar situation know how difficult it is to handle. It's incredible how he carries himself regardless of what's going on.'
The Spain striker is a former Atletico Madrid skipper and fresh from netting the winning goal in the Euro 2008 Final against Germany.
But although he has forged a deadly Anfield partnership with Gerrard, Torres now has the England midfielder in his sights.
He has revealed he wants to relieve his team-mate of the role - but knows how difficult it will be because the England midfielder is perfect for it.
Torres told Champions magazine: 'I'd love to be captain one day - Steven has shown me how to be a great leader.
The battle for the armband at Anfield will certainly hot up if and when Gareth Barry and Robbie Keane complete their moves there.
Long-time Aston Villa captain Barry and stand-in Tottenham skipper Keane will add huge experience to the side. He is also Republic of Ireland captain and Benitez will look to them to shine in another season of seemingly endless squad rotations.
But Torres is putting himself at the front of the queue and insisted: 'Rafa Benitez has taught me to demand a lot of myself and never become complacent - and I really admire Steven because I know the pressure he is under every day, everybody talking about him all day long, in changing rooms, in the pubs, in the stadium.
'I've heard people say that he should be stronger, have a stronger personality. And I know from experience how difficult it is to deal with all that. He is at another level of course, because Liverpool is a huge club.
'But I was captain of my team from a very young age and I know everybody was talking about me. I could feel it. I could see it out of the corner of my eye - especially when things weren't going right.
'People look at you from a distance and challenge you with their eyes. All that happens every day to Stevie and he copes with it - he copes with everything that is expected of him all the time.
'He's always under tremendous pressure to perform and everyone looks to him to show leadership, to lift the team.
'He has been a great example to everyone and those of us who have been in a similar situation know how difficult it is to handle. It's incredible how he carries himself regardless of what's going on.'
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