The former Liverpool hitman joined Chelsea in January last year for a record fee between English sides of £50 million but scored just 11 goals in 48 appearances at club level this season.

Posted Tuesday, June 05, 2012 by Goal.com

Chelsea midfielder Oriol Romeu is backing his club colleague Fernando Torres to be an important player for Spain at the European Championship, despite enduring an indifferent season for the Champions League winners.

The former Liverpool hitman joined Chelsea in January last year for a record fee between English sides of £50 million but scored just 11 goals in 48 appearances at club level this season.

Nonetheless, the Spanish Under-21 international midfielder reckons that Torres' experience and work rate could prove vital for the reigning world champions in Poland and Ukraine this summer.

"I think that Torres will be a very important player for the national team at the Euros because he is a player with great quality and experience and these characteristics are very important in a forward," said Romeu, speaking to Marca.

"He is very important for Chelsea too. You only have to look at how the fans love him and chant his name, whilst he is also loved amongst the players and directors at the club."

Last week, the 28-year-old spoke about his excitement at playing for La Furia Roja again, having been left out in February for the friendly with Venezuela, and Romeu believes that provoked a reaction from the striker.

"It is true that when you lose something you realise how important it is and this is what happened with Fernando in the national team," added Romeu.

"When Del Bosque left him out he did so to give him a warning and he took it well, naturally he continued to work until the end of the season and now he is there with a great chance of having a good European Championship."

Romeu, 20, is expected to be a part of Luis Milla's Spain under-23 side for the Olympic Games, which start at the end of July - alongside the likes of Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea, Athletic Bilbao's Iker Muniain and Atletico Madrid striker Adrian.

Turning his attentions to that tournament in particular, the former Barcelona youngster is hoping to get the opportunity to take part in, what he believes is, a 'once in a lifetime' experience.

"Hopefully I can go with the national team but I have to wait and see the squad list, because the level of players that could go to the Olympics is spectacular," opined Romeu.

"They have been playing for big teams, have won the Europa League or been playing in finals.

"The Olympics is a once in a lifetime experience and I would like to be there. The people of Spain have been spoiled with triumphs recently but Olympic gold is a huge thing.

"To be in London with Spain would be a bit strange, but nice at the same time because it is the city where I live and I enjoy it. To see a completely different atmosphere would be something special."