AC Milan have addressed widespread media reports linking out-of-form striker Fernando Torres with a January exit from the Serie A giants. A club official has spoken to Sky Italia and insisted that the forward has been ‘unlucky’ and the Italian side will continue to be ‘patient’ while Torres regains his fitness and form.

There has been speculation in the Italian and English press that the Spanish forward would return to the Premier League after failing to shake his goal scoring drought in Italy.

Last week, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho informed the media that the striker would not return to London after joining Milan on a two-year loan this summer.

Shortly thereafter reports began to surface linking Torres with a return to Liverpool, the club which sold him to Chelsea for £50 million in January 2011. The striker scored 81 goals for the Reds in 142 appearances during a three-and-a-half year spell on Merseyside.

But AC Milan club administrator Adriano Galliani has told Sky Italia that the Spaniard has been ‘unlucky’ and will not be leaving the Serie A side during the January transfer window.

“I don’t think he [Torres] will leave even if the market is unpredictable,” Galliani told the news outlet.

“Torres has been unlucky. 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].”

AC Milan beat Napoli 2-0 on Sunday, with Torres not even making the bench as a substitute. The former Chelsea and Liverpool striker has scored just one goal in ten league appearances for the Rossoneri and has not featured in his club’s last three Serie A matches.