Manchester City striker Ferran Torres is on the verge of a move to Barcelona. The transaction amount is about 55 million euros.
Manchester City striker Ferran Torres close to joining Barcelona
Hispanic Ferran Torres is on the verge of moving from English Manchester City to Barcelona. Earlier this week, City team manager Pep Guardiola confirmed that the 21-year-old striker had asked the club to let him go.
Next Monday, December 27th, is the date set for the player's announcement. On Tuesday next week, at least according to reports from Spain, Barcelona should officially introduce Ferran Torres to the Camp Nou. Earlier Thursday Pep Guardiola came to verbally sign the forthcoming transfer. Torres reportedly approached Manchester City with a transfer request.
I always feel that when Barcelona and Real Madrid are knocking on the door, it's hard to say no, said Guardiola, who himself won two major league titles as manager with Barça. “I want my players to be happy. If they are unhappy, they have the right to leave.
Only an agreement between the two clubs has not yet been reached, he said.
The Citizens can fill the position held by Torres with a Premier League player. Reportedly, the 25-year-old Jarrod Bowen from West Ham is considered as a candidate for this position.
With three goals and five assists, the winger was instrumental in helping the Hammers to a solid 5th place after 17 games. According to the report, Bowen will have to pay about 47 million euros.
How can Barça afford this transfer?
Previously, various sources have already reported a breakthrough in the Torres mega-deal.
To make this difficult transfer possible for a club that was forced to let go of overpriced superstar Lionel Messi over the summer due to Spanish league rules, Barça will need a complex funding plan.
Despite their financial difficulties, the Catalans are said to be willing to pay for the Spaniard initially around 55 million euros plus 10 million euros in bonuses. The transfer fee will be paid in four instalments.
Since his move from Valencia last year, he has scored 16 goals in 43 games for City. In his first season, he won the title with the Citizens and reached the Champions League final.
In principle, the costs of the deal will be quite manageable: Barcelona were recently able to borrow half a billion euros from the investment bank Goldman Sachs. Theoretically, the funding is already secured, but the problem again lies in the Spanish transfer rules.
At the beginning of the season, Sergio Aguero would not have been able to play if long-term players like Busquets or Alba hadn't given up a significant part of their salary.
Torres has been out of the league leaders since mid-October this season due to a right foot injury. In the Premier League, he played only four matches out of 18 possible.
Can Ferran Torres be registered at all?
For Torres at the moment, it looks something like this: since Barça had already exceeded the rules on transfers and especially salary payments, the newcomer could not be registered at the moment, in simple terms: he would not be allowed to play.
As a rule, salary is a big problem for a giant club. Since Barça pay more than what is allowed here, the club is only allowed to spend a quarter of its income.
Manchester City will play their next match against Leicester the other day, the meeting will take place on December 26. In turn, Barcelona will return only after the New Year with an away match with Mallorca. The game will take place on January 2, 2022.