£50m flop Torres leaves on a free
FERNANDO TORRES last night brought his Chelsea nightmare to a close by agreeing a two-year deal with AC Milan.
The Blues at the same time opened talks with Roma’s £20 million-rated striker Mattia Destro as a replacement for the Spaniard.
Torres’ agents and AC Milan’s representatives were locked in talks for hours over the deal for Torres, who cost Chelsea £50m. But agreement was eventually reached at around 5pm, and the he is due in Milan for a medical this morning.
Torres had wanted a pay-off from Chelsea for the remaining two years of his contract, but it is understood he waived that requirement in order to push the move through. Milan have agreed to pay his £175,000-a-week wages.
Chelsea are calling it a loan deal but, with Milan taking over his contract and paying no fee, he is effectively leaving on a free transfer. The former Liverpool striker, who joined Chelsea in January 2011 in that infamous British record deal, has agreed an option for a third year.
Milan turned to Torres – who endured a desperately disappointing three and a half years at Stamford Bridge – after Mario Balotelli joined Liverpool for £16m.
Milan also want Chelsea’s Dutch midfielder Marco van Ginkel, 21, on loan.