After three-and-half years at Stamford Bridge, the Spanish striker has opted to link up with AC Milan on a two-year loan agreement.

It was suggested at the time that Torres was ushered towards the exits in west London, with Jose Mourinho moving to bring in Diego Costa, Didier Drogba and Loic Remy.

The £50million frontman, who struggled to produce his best in Chelsea colours, maintains that was not the case, with the desire to take on a new challenge coming from him, and him alone.

Torres said in the Evening Standard: "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 World Cup winner ended up in Italy with Milan, but reports throughout the transfer window linked him with an emotional return to his roots in Madrid.

Torres admits to being aware of the rumours, but insists rejoining Atletico was never a realistic option.

He added: "There wasn't a real option to return. 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."