Fernando Torres: AC Milan seal loan deal for Chelsea striker
Last updated on .From the section Football
Chelsea and Spain striker Fernando Torres has joined Italian side AC Milan on a two-year loan deal.
The Blues confirmed the move on Sunday, moments after signing £10.5m striker Loic Remy from QPR as a replacement.
Torres, 30, moved to Chelsea for a then British record £50m in January 2011 but struggled to live up his price tag.
"I'm really happy to have arrived in Milan, I cannot wait to start this new adventure," said Torres, who is set to wear the number nine jersey.
His Chelsea contract is due to expire in the summer of 2016 when the AC Milan loan expires.
The ex-Liverpool and Atletico Madrid striker scored just 20 goals in 110 league appearances during his spell at Stamford Bridge, but was part of the club's 2012 Champions League success.
Torres's prospects at Chelsea were hampered further this season by the arrival of fellow Spain international Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid this summer.
Remy, 27, comes in to replace Torres and joins Costa and Didier Drogba as manager Jose Mourinho's attacking options at Chelsea.
| Fernando Torres's career in goals | |
|---|---|
| Atletico Madrid (2001-07) | 214 league appearances, 84 goals |
| Liverpool (2007-11) | 102 league appearances, 65 goals |
| Chelsea (2011-14) | 110 league appearances, 20 goals |
| Club total | 426 league appearances, 169 goals |
| Spain (2003-present) | 108 appearances, 37 goals |
Milan have been on the lookout for another forward to replace Mario Ballotelli, who left the club for Liverpool last week.
Rossoneri coach Filippo Inzaghi said: "I spoke to Mourinho to find out about what kind of man Torres is.
"He is a player that has scored lots of goals and you don't forget this all of a sudden.
"He has the right attributes from a human point of view and that is good."
| Biggest transfer fees paid by a British club | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| £59.7m | Angel Di Maria | Real Madrid to Man Utd | 2014 |
| £50m | Fernando Torres | Liverpool to Chelsea | 2011 |
| £42.4m | Mesut Ozil | Real Madrid to Arsenal | 2013 |
| £38m | Sergio Aguero | Atletico Madrid to Man City | 2011 |
| £37.1m | Juan Mata | Chelsea to Man Utd | 2014 |
| £35m | Andy Carroll | Newcastle to Liverpool | 2011 |
| £35m | Alexis Sanchez | Barcelona to Arsenal | 2014 |
Torres's British record transfer fee stood until Angel Di Maria moved from Real Madrid to Manchester United for £59.7m this week.
Chelsea fans only saw glimpses of the form that brought Torres 65 goals in 102 league appearances for previous club Liverpool.
