The Spain striker is expected to line up against Liverpool, the club he this week left, on Sunday, and has vowed not to celebrate if he scores against the Reds, who sold him to Chelsea for a British record £50million.

Liverpool fans burned shirts bearing Torres' name following the move, believing they had been betrayed by one of their own.

The 26-year-old, though, insists playing for Liverpool or Chelsea is a just a job, with his heart remaining with former club Atletico.

"I never kissed the Liverpool badge," he said. "Never. No. Kissed the badge? No. I never did. I never did when I was at Atletico Madrid, and I love Atletico, my former club.

"I see some players doing that when they join a club but the romance in football has gone. It's a different thing now. People are coming and leaving. When you are joining a club you want to do the best for yourself and that club and that's all.

"Some people like to kiss the badge. They can do it. I only want to score goals and do my job and achieve all the targets the team has.

"When I was born in Madrid I was not a Liverpool fan or a Chelsea fan. I was only an Atletico Madrid fan. I still am. Maybe it's the only badge I will kiss if I have to kiss one."

Many have speculated as to the sort of reception Torres will receive from his former supporters, but he is sure that on the field at least, he will be given a friendly welcome, citing captain Steven Gerrard as one who has wished him the best with his new club.

He added: "He was one of the first ones who called me and said if I left, if I stayed, he would help me and support me.

"Maybe because he was in that situation first. He's been a very good friend and team-mate from the first to the last day.

"He only wanted the best for me and said he'd agree with whatever decision I made."

Some Liverpool fans were seen burning Torres replica shirts when news of his £50million 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' 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.

He added of the prospect of facing his former team-mates: "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."

Torres is looking forward to linking up with Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.

"It's a big, big challenge," he said.

"When we played against Chelsea, we were very worried about both of them."