Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 10y

Diego Lopez: Fernando Torres more useful for Milan than Mario Balotelli

AC Milan goalkeeper Diego Lopez believes the Serie A club are stronger for having replaced Mario Balotelli with Fernando Torres this summer.

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Balotelli was sold to Liverpool before Torres was recruited on loan from Chelsea, and Lopez says his fellow Spaniard can prove more effective in the Rossoneri attack.

"We want to get Milan back to where they belong and for this Torres is going to be more useful than Balotelli," Lopez, 32, told a news conference in Milan. "He's a big signing for Milan and he's done great things in his career. His job is to score goals. He's a big player -- already tried and tested, renowned, quick and strong."

Lopez, meanwhile, arrived from Champions League winners Real Madrid this summer and says he does not regret the move for a minute.

"Both are huge clubs, two of the most important in the world," he said. "As soon as there was the possibility of coming to Milan, I took my decision with the utmost conviction. Milan have a great history, regardless of what has happened in recent years. I'm going to give it all I can to get Milan back where they belong."

With Filippo Inzaghi now at the helm, Lopez also feels they have the right man to guide the club after their failure to even qualify for the Europa League last season.

"He's a great leader and he's going to become a great coach," Lopez said. "The people here are right behind him, both professionally and personally, and he is a serene coach who gives us faith."

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