Fernando
Torres admits he knew his time at Chelsea was up when they signed Diego
Costa, and he is excited about his new challenge at AC Milan.
Torres switched from Liverpool to Chelsea in a then-British transfer record
£50million deal in January 2011.
Despite winning a UEFA Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup with the
club, he never found the form he showed at Anfield and, after Chelsea
recruited Costa this summer, Torres knew he needed to move on.
He is now relishing helping Milan get back to the top in Serie A after
moving to the San Siro on a two-year loan.
“Obviously I could see what the season at Chelsea was going to be. They
signed a striker that was expecting to play and I need to have this feeling
of being important,” said Torres at his unveiling in Italy.
"I want to thank my two English clubs, Liverpool for bringing me to the
Premier League and Chelsea for the trophies I won.
“After all these years, however, I needed a change, something that would
give me the desire to play, to feel important.
“AC Milan is all I needed, a great club with great fans where I will try to
shine and come back myself. We need to return to the first three (Serie A
teams) and I want to get back my past levels.
“I'm happy to be here, I can't wait to begin. I played in La Liga and in the
Premier League, now I am in the third most important league in Europe.”
Professional
He added his relationship with former Inter Milan and current Chelsea boss
Jose Mourinho was professional and he left on good terms.
“I learned so much with him, maybe in the future our paths can meet in
again," he added.
“When I told him about AC Milan he wished me good luck, he talked to me
about the passion there is here (in Milan). I wish him the best as he did
with me.”
Torres replaces another big-name striker Mario Balotelli at the San Siro
after the Italy international joined the Spaniard's former club Liverpool.
“Balotelli? He was important here, I wish him good luck for his new
experience with Liverpool."
top