Sunderland
Sunderland striker Eliezer Mayenda has revealed his liking for Liverpool, born from his love of Fernando Torres.
El Mundo Madrid interviewed the Sunderland striker this week.
He discussed his career to date, his international aspirations and how Torres was key to a major decision in his career.
Sunderland player has Spanish roots
Born in 2005 to a Congolese father and Togolese mother, Mayenda grew up moving between countries.
The family later moved to Zaragoza, Spain, where he was born. He left the city aged nine to move to Paris, but his time in Spain never left him.
He started his football career there with CD Ebro and has been a part of the Spanish youth set up since 2022. He’s already played for them at U17, U20 and U21 level.
His decision to represent them was left up to the 20-year-old and influenced heavily by the former Liverpool striker.
“Torres debuted very young, at a time when it wasn’t so common to do so early,” the Sunderland striker explained.
“I identify with him. It’s also important that when I played Pro Evolution Soccer with my brother, Fernando Torres was there, playing for Liverpool. I really enjoyed playing with the English team.”
Torres love equals Liverpool love
Sunderland's Eliezer Mayenda shares his affection for Liverpool and Fernando Torres inspiration
Sunderland’s Eliezer Mayenda shares his affection for Liverpool and Fernando Torres inspiration
Indeed, it is that connection with Torres which has also led to a liking for Torres’ former club.
He is one of Liverpool’s most prolific strikers, with a record of 81 goals in 142 appearances across all competitions in a three-and-a-half seasons at Anfield.
At the time, Torres was the fastest Liverpool player in history to reach 50 league goals, doing so in just 72 appearances. He also broke the record for the most goals by a foreign player in a debut Premier League season, with 24.
That record, as well as various others, saw him finish third in the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year rankings in 2008.
And it left a big impression on a young Mayenda too.
Sunderland heroics
“I identify with Fernando Torres; he also debuted very young… I like Liverpool,” he added.
For now, the focus is on impressing at Sunderland. He’s already something of a hero there after goal against Sheffield United in the play-off final last year.
Now he wants more experiences like that with the Black Cats, and perhaps a goal in a World Cup, like his hero Torres.
“God willing, there will be more important goals in the future,” he concluded.
“That match at Wembley was special, with my whole family there. I seem like a very cool person, but at that moment I felt like I was floating.”
The youngster has plenty of time to make more special memories with Sunderland. Now away with the Spanish U21 side, which is a very talented group, Eliezer Mayenda will be seeing his ambitions rise further.
🇩🇪 EXCLUSIVE: Castello Lukeba ‼️
➡️ Source confirms to @Kaus_Pandey17 that Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United interested
➕ Defender tempted by move to Premier League
➡️ Summer decision will depend on project offeredhttps://t.co/2VZ2ljcDv7 #afc #lfc #afc
— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) March 25, 2026