AC Milan play down reports linking Fernando Torres with Liverpool return
AC Milan insist out-of-form striker Fernando Torres will remain at the club in January, despite reports linking the Spaniard with a return to the Premier League.
Torres joined Milan this summer on a two-year loan deal from Chelsea but has failed to replicate the form he displayed during his time with both Atletico Madrid and Liverpool.
The Spain international has scored just one goal in 10 league appearances for the Rossoneri and has not featured in Milan's last three Serie A games, increasing speculation that the club will look to offload Torres in the January transfer window.
When asked about that possibility, AC Milan club administrator Adriano Galliani told Sky Italia: "I don't think he (Torres) will leave, even if the market is unpredictable."
Reports in England have linked Torres with a return to Liverpool, the club that sold him to Chelsea for £50million in January 2011.
Torres scored 81 goals for the Reds in 142 appearances during his three-and-a-half year spell at Anfield.
However, Galliani believes Torres still has to find his feet in Milan but is confident the Spaniard can succeed in Italy's top flight.
"Torres has been unlucky," Galliani said. "He has struggled with injuries and is coming from a different league.
"We need to be patient.
"He is important and will probably return (to top form)."
Milan, who are not competing in Europe this season, beat Napoli 2-0 on Sunday, with Torres not even included as a substitute on the bench.
The outcome, Milan's sixth win of the campaign, allowed the Rossoneri to climb to sixth in Serie A, 12 points adrift of league leaders Juventus.