December 23, (THEWILL) – Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, has confirmed that Barcelona is close to signing City striker Ferran Torres.
As THEWILL reported, Barca manager Xavi Hernandez identified Torres as a top priority to bolster his attack following the recent forced retirement of ex-City star Sergio Aguero. In that light, a deal worth €60m has been agreed to bring Torres to Camp Nou in the January transfer window.
During Guardiola’s news conference on Thursday, Torres’ future was the first item on the agenda, and the former Barcelona manager did not shy away from discussing the transfer.
“I hear it was very close but I have not heard from my club that it is already done, nothing official,” Guardiola said. “They are negotiating. When the club confirmed, it’s done, but Txiki [Begiristain, director] didn’t tell me it’s done.
“We are not going to bring in a striker,” Guardiola responded when asked if he planned to replace Torres in January.
Despite his desire not to lose Torres, the manager reiterated that he would never stand in the way of the 21-year-old’s desire to leave City.
“I always have the feeling when FC Barcelona and Real Madrid knock on the door it’s hard to say no,” Guardiola continued.
“In terms of fashion and cities and many reasons. When he knocked on my door and said he wanted to leave, I said ‘leave’. I want happiness in my players. If you are not happy, you have to leave. We are not a club where presidents and CEOs say ‘no, you have to stay’.
“The players and clubs have to agree, this is business, but if the player wants to leave, they go. It’s not just Ferran, it’s everyone.
“If you want to leave because you will be happier in another place, you have to go. The career for a football player is short. If he wants to leave, and the clubs have an agreement, I am happy for him.”
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
