Torres understands fans' anger

Soccer: Fernando Torres has revealed he made up his mind to leave Liverpool midway through the January transfer window, more than a week before Chelsea's bid for him became known.

Torres was officially unveiled at his new club's Cobham training base on Friday afternoon after completing his record-breaking move from Liverpool on transfer deadline day.

Chelsea saw a bid rejected for Torres four days before the end of the window but the striker had decided "10-12 days before the transfer window closed" that his future lay away from Anfield.

And he admitted he knew Chelsea would be his destination as soon as the clubs began talks.

"As soon as I knew that Liverpool and Chelsea were talking about that, I told them that the decision was made," he said. "I was the first one to go to the manager and tell them."

Some Liverpool fans were seen burning Torres replica shirts when news of his €58 million transfer became known, but the player said: "I can't say anything bad about (Liverpool supporters) because they made me feel really good. I understand they will be angry. I would like to explain to them all the reasons."

Hinting his discontent dated back to the departure of other key players such as Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano, he said: "I was a Liverpool fan. When some of the players left the club, I couldn't understand. They did the best for themselves and their families and their careers."

Torres's commitment to the cause at Liverpool had been criticised this season but he said: "I never lost my ambition. Too many people are talking about that - that's just opinions. I was playing out of form for a month."

The 26-year-old shrugged off the pressure of his price tag, a record fee between British clubs.

"I have been in this situation before when I signed for Liverpool - big money, big expectation, so this is not new," he said. "I'm more than ready for the challenge."

He insisted he had a good relationship with new Anfield boss Kenny Dalglish.

"I didn't talk with him when I left the club," he said. "I had a good relationship with him for the three weeks he was the coach."

Torres' first game is set to be against Liverpool on Sunday. Having said earlier this week he would like to score against his former club, he revealed today he would not celebrate if he found the net.

"I have big, big respect for Liverpool fans so I don't think so," he said. "It's going to be a strange situation for me. I left in Liverpool a lot of friends. I have a very good relationship with all of them."

Liverpool vice-captain Jamie Carragher insists he holds no grudge with Torres and believes the deal is probably for the best.

"I'm not going to criticise him, we bought him for £20-odd million we sold him for £50m," the defender told the Liverpool Echo. "Whether people agree with how he's gone, supporters can't deny he was an absolutely fantastic player for Liverpool. His goals record was up there with the greats - (Ian) Rush, (John) Aldridge, (Robbie) Fowler, (Michael) Owen."

Carragher had been concerned about the future of Torres for six months, but he thinks that his club have benefited from the record-breaking transfer.

"I think it's been in the offing since the summer, we always felt that at some stage this season or maybe the end of the season this may happen. I think for us it was probably better that Fernando moved on, if he didn't 100 per cent want to be here or it was going to happen in the summer. And it's probably better for everyone all round.

"We've got two young hungry lads who have got a lot to prove for Liverpool over the next few years and hopefully the two of them will be here for the next decade. They're that young that they could possibly play 10 years for the club if everything went well and they performed well together. So, from that point of view we can look at it and say we're pleased with what we've brought in and what business we've done."

Meanwhile, Roberto Mancini has confirmed Manchester City were interested in signing Torres last summer. "Maybe in the summer we tried but it was difficult," said Mancini. "He is a fantastic player. Maybe it was time to change shirts because he wanted to leave. He is one of the best strikers in Europe and I am sure he will be fantastic for Chelsea.

"For us, we have bought (Edin) Dzeko and are happy with him. He is like Torres."