Chelsea Transfer News: Fernando Torres Opens Up on Milan Move and Atletico

Fernando Torres has cleared up the situation concerning his summer departure from Chelsea to AC Milan on a two-year loan deal, with the Spaniard insisting it was his decision to make the switch.

The former Atletico Madrid striker endured a torrid three-and-a-half year spell at Stamford Bridge—after transferring from Liverpool for £50 million—during which he never reproduced anywhere near the form he did while in La Liga or at Anfield.

Paul White/Associated Press

Chelsea's strike problems were largely responsible for them not winning the Premier League last season, and boss Jose Mourinho did an effective reboot up front in the summer, moving Samuel Eto'o, Demba Ba and Torres and bringing in Diego Costa, Loic Remy and the returning Didier Drogba.

However, Torres is adamant that it was his decision to move on, per Kieran Gill of the Mail Online: "Mourinho has always been good to me. The decision to leave was a personal one because I needed more, I needed to feel important. Mourinho and I have a good relationship and still today we continue to talk to each other."

The 30-year-old Torres will see out the remainder of his Chelsea contract at Milan, but there was speculation that he could have returned to Atletico, a club at which he thrived and is adored.

However, the Spain international admits that was never really an option, per Gill's report:

"

There wasn't a real option to return (to Atletico). They speculated with it and I didn't like that. I've said it many times, I won't go to Atletico to retire. I will go if I have motivation to compete because the Atletico of today is very different than when I was there. I follow them every weekend. It (returning) is an option that isn't real.

"

Torres' Chelsea travails seemed to have continued in Serie A, with the striker bagging just one goal so far in seven appearances, per WhoScored.com.

Milan sit third in the Italian league, six points behind leaders Juventus, but Torres continues to underperform, per Bleacher Report UK:

It now seems as though he will never return to the player he was in his pomp at Liverpool, and he may well lose his place in the starting lineup at Milan unless he finds the net more often. Matteo Bonetti of beIN Sports has accused the forward of disinterest:

Torres will have to up his game if he wants to become an important cog in the Milan machine, but years of frustration at Chelsea must have knocked his confidence significantly.

While Torres insists he was in no way forced out of Chelsea, Mourinho had no choice but to bring in better strikers, as the once-great Spaniard is no longer a force at the highest level.