Campo said of the Liverpool striker: "El Nino was the standard bearer, the player named by all as the successor to Raul. But in the end we saw that he was a normal and everyday boy, with wonderful potential, and in England they have given him tranquility, confidence and a team that plays for him. Liverpool has given tranquility to him and that is very good news for Spain.

"The expectation in the Spanish Liga damaged him because nobody shared with him the responsibility of being leader of Atletico Madrid, the pressure of such an important team was too much. A young person is not prepared to wear so much pressure.

"Now everybody can see him grow at Liverpool. I see him there as being very calm, he is putting away his scoring chances."