Pako Ayestaran feels Fernando Torres' departure was the best option for both the player and for Liverpool.
Rafael Benitez's former assistant was in the Revista de La Liga studio on the day after the Spanish striker's £50million move to Premier League rivals Chelsea and gave his insider's view on the deal.
Ayestaran was part of the set-up that tempted Torres to leave his boyhood club Atletico Madrid in 2007 and move to England to seek silverware and success.
However, trophies have not been forthcoming since the striker's arrival at Anfield and Ayestaran feels his motivation has dwindled in recent months.
And while he is likely to prove a valuable asset at Stamford Bridge, he reckons Kenny Dalglish was wise to cash in on him now.
"At this moment the best solution for both was this one," Ayestaran said.
"We don't know why, but he was underperforming. We cannot question the quality of the player, he is a top-class player, but he was underperforming.
"The current value of the player depends on the potential quality and the motivation. When you calculate the potential quality, maybe his value is 60million, but he is underperforming so this means the value is 30million.
"And the opposite. How many players out there are really motivated and the value is more than the potential quality? I think that is the reason. I know the players and they pay the price to be loyal to their clubs.
"When he changed from Atletico Madrid to Liverpool he was looking for silverware and to win trophies. Now he has the same idea in mind.
"It's difficult, maybe they've paid the price for the reality of the club."
