Ferran Torres misses Barca training again as he closes in on PSG move
Barcelona, Aug 13
World Cup hero Ferran Torres is edging closer to a move to European champions Paris Saint-Germain with the confirmation that he has yet to return to training with FC Barcelona.
The scorer of the winning goal in the 2026 World Cup final was due to report back to start training with Barcelona on Wednesday, but the 26-year-old was permitted by the club not to return.
There was no sign of Torres either on Thursday, as he continues to negotiate his future with PSG at the same time as the two clubs are discussing his transfer fee, reports Xinhua.
Torres has one year left on his current contract with FC Barcelona and the club would prefer to sell him now rather than see him walk away on a free transfer at the end of June.
It's rumoured in the Spanish press that the fee would be between 40 and 50 million euros (46-57.5 million US dollars), and Barcelona would need to sign a replacement, given that Torres' departure, along with Robert Lewandowski's contract ending in June, leaves the club without a specialist centre-forward.
While Torres has permission to miss training, several other Barcelona players, including midfielder Marc Casado and defenders Hector Fort and Jofre Torrents, are training apart from the main squad as the club looks for a new destination for them.
Casado is thought to be a target for clubs in the Saudi Pro League and would also command a fee of around 40 million euros, while Fort has been linked with a possible return to Elche after spending last season there on loan.
In the previous 2025/26 La Liga season, FC Barcelona won their second consecutive league title under manager Hansi Flick, sealing the trophy in May 2026 with an El Clasico victory over Real Madrid and finishing 14 points clear at the top. They will start their campaign in 2026-27 on August 24 against Elche.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As a neutral fan, it's sad to see big players leave top clubs. But let's be real — Torres hasn't been the same post-injury, and PSG offering 50 million is a win for Barcelona. The club could use that money to sign a proper No. 9. Any word on who they might bring in? The August 24 opener against Elche is going to look very different.
Interesting timing. Missing training while the clubs negotiate is an old-school agent trick, but this is becoming a common pattern in football now. 🤷♂️ Barca's hands are tied financially, and selling makes sense. Good luck to Torres at PSG though — he'll get to play with Mbappe... wait, isn't Mbappe at Real Madrid now? Anyway, Paris will suit him.
It's a little concerning for Barca fans that they're also shipping out Casado, Fort, and Torrents at the same time. Selling your depth while trying to win a third straight La Liga title? That's a big gamble. Flick did wonders last season, but I wonder how much patience the board will have if the new signings don't click instantly.
Let's be honest — 50 million for a 26-year-old who scored one World Cup final goal but has been inconsistent in La Liga? That's great money for Barca. PSG loves a flashy signing. This feels like a good deal for both clubs actually. Just hope Barca doesn't squander the transfer fee on another flop.
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