Brendan Rodgers told Chelsea to buy Fernando Torres five years ago

BRENDAN RODGERS would have saved Chelsea millions if they had taken his advice and bought Fernando Torres — FIVE years ago.

Rodgers was the Chelsea 'spy' who recommended the Spaniard to the Blues after watching the young Atletico Madrid striker star against Barcelona at the Nou Camp.

In the end Chelsea signed misfit Andriy Shevchenko, with Torres eventually arriving in these shores at Liverpool for £26million in 2007.

Chelsea eventually forked out an English record £50m in January for a player who has since failed to fire.

But Rodgers, an ex-member of Jose Mourinho's backroom staff and now boss at Swansea, said: "He's a wonderful talent and a great striker. I remember going to watch him with Atletico Madrid and he scored twice.

"He was outstanding and I recommended they take him at the time."

Rodgers cut his managerial teeth under Mourinho — and alongside current Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas — coaching the youth side before being promoted to reserve team boss.

And ahead of his first trip back to Stamford Bridge tomorrow, Rodgers fears a Torres backlash after his open-goal miss against Manchester United.

He said: "I know that he is a world-class striker.

"That miss will be something that he will want to put right as soon as possible."