Chelsea gave me what I was looking for — Fernando Torres

Spain forward, Fernando Torres, has agreed to return to Atletico Madrid on loan from AC Milan until the end of the 2015-16 season, seven-and-a-half years after leaving his boyhood club.

Torres, 30, has been struggling for goals since leaving Liverpool for Chelsea in a then-British record £50million in 2011, and moved to Milan on loan in August.

However, the striker insisted that while it was 'time to go back home' he did not regret his career path since leaving Anfield. 

‘Chelsea gave me what I was looking for when I left Liverpool... trophies,' said Torres in Dubai after Atletico confirmed the deal. 'I'll always see it as a success.’ 

Chelsea and Milan agreed last Saturday to make the switch permanent, paving the way for Torres to be loaned to Atletico, where he will hope to resurrect his stuttering career under inspirational coach Diego Simeone.

Simeone and Torres played together at the Spanish club between 2003 and 2005, when the young Torres captained the Argentine who will now be his manager. 

'At last back home. Thanks to all who have made this dream come true,' Torres wrote on his Twitter feed shortly after Atletico confirmed the deal . 

Torres was Simeone's captain, and Fabio Capello believes the Atletico manager can reinvigorate the striker

The deal is,  however, subject to Torres passing a medical, and will be finalised on January 5 when the Italian transfer window opens, Atletico said.

'In this way, the forward from Fuenlabrada returns to his home where he was trained as a footballer and became one of their big stars,' the club added.

A World Cup and double European Championship winner with Spain, Torres joined Atletico at the age of 11.

Known as 'El Nino' (The Kid), he made his first-team debut as a 17-year-old in 2001, when Madrid's second club were in the second division, and was appointed captain two years later, becoming a huge favourite with the fans. 

Although he left the club in 2007, Fernando Torres  is still Atletico Madrid's leading league scorer in the 21st century, ahead of four other Premier League stars.

When he left for Liverpool in July 2007, he had scored 91 goals in 244 appearances.

At Liverpool, Torres was one of the best strikers in the world, scoring 65 Premier League goals in 91 starts.

With the Blues, he managed 46 goals , indicating that  each strike effectively cost Chelsea more than £1m.