Former Atletico Madrid captain Fernando Torres has lifted the lid on his cloak-and-dagger move to Liverpool 18 months ago.

Torres completed his move to Liverpool in July last year, a month-and-a-half after they had been defeated by AC Milan in the final of the Champions League.

The striker revealed he was approached by Liverpool coach and fellow Spaniard Rafael Benitez just after that match, but he had trouble believing it was not a hoax call.

"Rafa Benitez phoned me on my mobile," Torres recalled.

"At the start, I was asking myself if this was some person imitating him. So I called (Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe) Reina to make sure it really was Rafa's number.

"Then after that, I didn't have to think for long. I knew that was the call I had been waiting for."

Torres also revealed he made a secret two-day visit to Liverpool prior to signing, during which time he took his medical, and was immediately charmed by the club, its history and the supporters.

"I spent two days in an apartment that I only left to take some tests," he said.

"There were just books, DVDS, everything you could think of about the club. Some people from the club came to speak to me and answer my questions; it was incredible.

"I will never forget a man crossing the street I met a short time after I got there - he said to me that he worked all week just to think of the pleasure that would be waiting for him at the stadium."