Jose Mourinho praised the performance of Mattia Destro despite the talk that the Chelsea manager is lining the Roma striker up as a replacement for the AC Milan-bound Fernando Torres.

Spain international Torres had long last agreed to a deal with the Serie A giants last Friday and recent reports insinuate that Mourinho could be set to reunite with Italian front man Destro.

The 23-year-old athlete has performed really well and rose through the ranks at Inter Milan and Mourinho believes he saw the signs of a top striker during his time as coach at the San Siro.

"Mattia was a kid when I was at Inter," he told theDaily Mirror. "I think he was like 18. He was playing in the Primavera team, our under-21s, training with us so many times.

"Everyone knew at the club that his potential was there to be a top striker. He was unlucky because we had Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Adriano, then Samuel Eto'o, Diego Milito.

"So it was not easy for him to come into the first team. The ones that got the chance were Davide Santon and Giulio Donati."

Torres' three-year spell at Stamford Bridge is expected to end soon with the striker set for a medical in Milan on Saturday and the completion of his reported two-year loan deal could pave the way for Mourinho to recruit another forward before Monday's transfer deadline.

Commenting on the Spaniard's imminent departure, Mourinho said: "He is going to leave because he wants to try a new life, a new club and a new league.

"I believe that it is to try to be happier than he was in the last couple of years."