Manchester City agreed a deal with Barcelona that allowed Ferran Torres to return to Spain just 18 months after he joined the Sky Blues from Valencia, but Mundo Deportivo (h/t Sport Witness) say City tried everything in their power to halt the transfer.
Although Torres was injured at the time of his move, he was a player Pep Guardiola rated highly. City wanted a ‘return clause’ attached to the 21-year-old’s deal that allowed Torres back to the Etihad Stadium if Barcelona were still unable to register the Spanish international, but the Catalans refused.
Mundo Deportivo say Barcelona took offense to being given requests in negotiations so City had to ‘relunctantly’ let Torres go without the specific clause. It remains to be seen when the 21-year-old will make his debut, not least because of his positive Covid test but because of club debt.
Torres made 43 appearances in his season-and-a-half at the Etihad, scoring 16 goals with four assists. The Spaniard was a temporary option up front following Sergio Aguero’s exit, but now Guardiola has to consider Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus. Another centre-forward should be signed in the coming months too.
In other news, Man City may have to pay between £62.7m and £75.2m for 21 y/o with 125 goals