New Milan striker Fernando Torres is convinced the time was right for him to leave Chelsea .
The Spaniard knew a regular place was not guaranteed after the Blues signed Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid and opted to leave Chelsea to enjoy regular football with Milan.
"Obviously I could see what the season at Chelsea was going to be," said Torres at his unveiling in Italy.
"They signed a striker that was expecting to play and I need to have this feeling of being important.
"I want to thank my two English clubs, Liverpool for bringing me to the Premier League and Chelsea for the trophies I won.
"After all these years, however, I needed a change, something that would give me the desire to play, to feel important."
The striker joins Milan with the Italian club struggling to make an impact in the Italian Serie A but believes he can help them to secure a top-three finish and a Champions League place.
"AC Milan is all I needed, a great club with great fans where I will try to shine and come back myself," added Torres.
"We need to return to the first three (Serie A teams) and I want to get back my past levels."
After playing at the Vicente Calderen with Atletico Madrid, at Anfield with Liverpool and Stamford Bridge with Chelsea, San Siro is now the 30-year-old's new home.
"I'm happy to be here, I can't wait to begin. I played in La Liga and in the Premier League, now I am in the third most important league in Europe."
