Barcelona unveiled new signing Ferran Torres at Camp Nou yesterday and the former Manchester City striker said he was ready to get going after being sidelined since October with a fractured foot.
“I’ll be ready in less than two weeks,” the 21-year-old Spaniard, who suffered a minor fracture on his right foot during last year’s Nations League campaign, told hundreds of Barca supporters present at the unveiling. “Today is a great day for me. Having played for two coaches with Barcelona roots, like Luis Enrique and Pep Guardiola, has helped me to adapt to the Barca DNA. I’m looking forward to putting myself under Xavi Hernandez’s orders.”
The striker signed a contract until June 2027, with a release clause of 1bn euros. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed but British and Spanish media reported that Barcelona had agreed a transfer fee of around 55mn euros ($62.5mn), with a further 10mn euros in add-ons.
Torres returns to Spain after joining City from Valencia in August 2020 and made 43 appearances for the English top-flight side in all competitions, scoring 16 goals.
“This is a dream. We all know the kind of club Barca are. I’m going to give everything I have inside of me to take Barca where they deserve,” said Torres, who has scored 12 goals in 22 internationals. “I’m almost fit and ready to play. The injury is almost healed and soon I’ll try my best to give joy to our supporters.”
Barcelona were forced to allow their all-time leading scorer Lionel Messi to leave the club last year due to “financial and structural obstacles” and have debts of more than 1.35bn euros.
Barcelona’s attacking options were weakened further with the retirement of Argentine forward Sergio Aguero at the age of 33 last month due to a heart condition.
De Jong header gives
Barcelona 1-0 win
Barcelona climbed two places to fifth in LaLiga on Sunday after a poor start to the campaign which resulted in the sacking of coach Ronald Koeman, with former club captain Xavi Hernandez taking over the reins in November.
Luuk de Jong’s first-half header and a stunning stoppage-time save by Marc-Andre ter Stegen secured a 1-0 win at Mallorca in a match where the Catalans were missing 14 players due to Covid-19, injuries and suspensions.
Barca are one point behind Atletico Madrid in fourth and 15 adrift of leaders Real Madrid who have played a game more. It was vindication time for striker De Jong after several media reports that Barca want to move him on this month. He got his second goal since arriving from Sevilla in the close season — his first for more than three months.
The Dutchman was Barca’s best player on Sunday as he also hit the post twice in the first half, once with a bicycle kick. The goal came just before the break when he headed home from close range after a cross by Oscar Mingueza. Barca dominated the game until the final minutes when Mallorca started pressing for an equaliser and almost got it. Ter Stegen saved Barca in added time with an unbelievable handball-style reflex save with his right arm, denying Jaume Costa whose close-range strike looked like a sure goal.
“It was an historic win for us, I’m not exaggerating,” Xavi told reporters. “Missing so many players, to go back home with a win — it’s three points worth their weight in gold. The young players showed up and Ter Stegen made a stop for the ages. I’m thrilled that we manage to win.”
Barca made the trip without the suspended Sergio Busquets, five injured players (Ansu Fati, Pedri, Memphis Depay, Martin Braithwaite and Sergi Roberto) and eight due to the Covid-19 outbreak at the club (Sergino Dest, Philippe Coutinho, Ez Abde, Jordi Alba, Alex Balde, Ousmane Dembele, Gavi and Dani Alves).