Manchester City forward Ferran Torres wants to join FC Barcelona in the January transfer window, per various reports. Club officials visited Manchester on Thursday to negotiate a deal.
According to Mundo Deportivo and journalist Gerard Romero, the speedy 21-year-old winger told City manager Pep Guardiola he wants to leave Manchester to join the Catalan club. The former Barça player and manager agreed to let him leave, understanding the draw that the Blaugrana has on players, as long as both clubs could reach a deal for his transfer.
Torres is one of Xavi Hernandez’s targets to bolster Barça’s squad in the winter transfer window due to his pace and ability to play on the wing and as a No. 9.
Barça’s Director of Football Mateu Alemany and CEO Ferran Reverter traveled to Manchester to hold a meeting with City’s Executive Director Ferran Soriano about the possible transfer, per the same reports. Both clubs’ executives have remained in contact on Friday to discuss updates about the deal.
It is also reported that Alemany and Héctor Peris, Torres’ agent, have a strong relationship dating back to when the forward played for Valencia CF. Their friendship is seen as a positive in bringing Torres to Barcelona in January.
Torres’ contract with City expires in June 2025, and he signed with the English club in the summer of 2020. The Spanish international has scored 15 goals and tallied four assists in 40 matches across all competitions for the reigning Premier League champions.
