Torres eager to make an impact with Barcelona
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Torres eager to make an impact with Barcelona
(Reuters) - Barcelona unveiled new signing Ferran Torres at Camp Nou on Monday 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 1 billion euros.
Financial details of the deal were not disclosed but British and Spanish media reported that Barcelona had agreed a transfer fee of around 55 million euros ($62.5 million), with a further 10 million 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 1.35 billion 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.
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.
