How Fernando Torres Will Turn Back the Clock This Season at AC Milan

Plenty of eyes will be fixed on Fernando Torres as he makes his Milan debut this Sunday in the match against Parma.

Despite the criticism blanketing the Torres era at Chelsea, there's renewed hope for positivity now that the striker affectionately called El Nino has moved on to play in Serie A, a league that could very much help him turn back the clock and show Milanisti shades of his skill at Liverpool.

Two seasons ago, Miroslav Klose told reporters on Sky Italia that Serie A was the perfect league for him to make a comeback after becoming a benchwarmer at Bayern Munich.

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The German legend went on to applaud the style of Italian football which allowed the striker more space to operate, which was beneficial for his aging legs as he approached the twilight of his career.

After scoring only three goals in his last two seasons with Bayern Munich, Klose went on to find the net 34 times in his first three seasons with Lazio, a tally that also allowed him to play in and win the 2014 World Cup with Germany.

A similar case can be made for Torres. Despite having lost some of the searing speed that made him one of the most coveted attackers in Europe during his time with Liverpool, he won't have to face the frenetic nature of the Premier League and will have more time on the ball to make a decision and take his chances around the penalty box. 

The notion that Serie A defenses are among the best in Europe has become a bit of an urban legend recently. While it is true that even the minnows organize themselves well at the back, the league has adopted a more offensive approach in recent seasons which exposes defenses far more often, leading to higher scorelines that weren't previously seen during the "Catenaccio" era.

Torres will also benefit from a Milan side that added playmakers late in the summer transfer window. The arrival of his former teammate at Chelsea, Marco van Ginkel, will help.

Giacomo Bonaventura is another addition who will provide guile and creativity around the penalty box. The ex-Atalanta midfielder is a fine crosser of the ball and could help Torres find a few golden opportunities in front of goal.

New Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi will be another reason why Fernando Torres could reignite his career instantly. The new boss told the media that he is excited to work with the Spanish striker and is confident that he can help Torres find his old form.

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Torres on new coach Filippo Inzaghi: "He will be able to get the best out of me. He was a great striker and I can learn a lot from him."

— Fernando Torres Fans (@teamF9Torres) September 3, 2014"

After all, Inzaghi was a striker who did more with less and found a way to exploit the defense without being a particularly incredible athlete or too technical. 

Assuming all these factors come together, expect Torres to relive some of his glory years and become a prolific goalscorer in a top division once again.