The three key points for understanding Ferran Torres's metamorphosis

BarcelonaThe starting eleven against PSG, the most demanding match since the start of the season, confirmed that Ferran Torres is the starting center forward. In his fifth season at Barça, the forward from Foios (Valencia) has completed his metamorphosis into a center forward, a position he began playing in under Pep Guardiola at City. His entire career, both in youth and in his leap to the elite with Valencia, had been spent mostly as a wide player. Thus, he made the jump to England, where the team's numerous striker absences skyblue They made the Catalan coach relocate him to striker. An injury hampers his continuity in a striker role that, although he initially experienced with some misgivings, he is now culminating successfully at Hansi Flick's Barça.

Those who work with Ferran on a daily basis consider it "the maturation and evolution of a footballer who is reaching the zenith of his career." The Valencian has won the battle against Robert Lewandowski as a starter. His contract ends in 2027, but his intention—even in the worst moments—has always been to remain with Barça. For the moment, the club considers it still too early to talk about his renewal. Meanwhile, Ferran is experiencing his own particular metamorphosis into a striker position. newFive goals and one assist in nine games this season. It's the maturation of a process that hasn't always been easy for a footballer who had always played as a winger and who, at times, felt out of place: "Am I a wide striker or a center forward?" he asked himself.

The demands of Flick's Barça

The first of the three key factors in understanding the number 7's strong performance lies in his ability to adapt his characteristics to Flick's demands. The match against PSG is the latest example. Although the French side were far superior from the 30th minute, Ferran demonstrated how his skills fit with what the German demands of him. From his work in the initial pressing to his constant runs. All of this is supported by goals, the indispensable elixir of strikers. While Lewandowski remains, at 37, one of the best finishers in Europe, Ferran brings a mobility that can wear down defenses and force center backs out of position. He is also working on his passes with his back to goal.

Although he has earned his starting status since this season, the numbers support it since Xavi's last year, in which he earned the nickname shark. Last season, Ferran was one of the key players in the Catalans' Copa del Rey win: he was instrumental in the semi-finals against Atlético, was the MVP of the final against Real Madrid, and provided three assists in the victory in May's La Liga derby that would secure the championship. His continued performance led the specialized website Transfermarkt to raise his valuation to €50 million this Thursday, matching the highest peak of his career.

The understanding with Lamine Yamal and Pedri

Another point in the Valencian's favor is the good football chemistry he has with Lamine Yamal, with whom he shares a good and mutually respectful relationship in the locker room, and with Pedri, his best friend and teammate at Barça. Although he's only 25, the fact that this is his fifth season as a Barça player and that the bulk of the squad is made up of very young players makes him one of the veterans, with the influence that this entails. Those who know Ferran well describe him in ARA as one of the members of the locker room who generates the best vibe, although he also knows how far he can go with his jokes. He also maintains a good relationship with Flick, who, like any true German, appreciates that Ferran is a "straight-talking" person.

On the pitch, his runs are often the target of deep passes from both Lamine Yamal – the first chance against PSG came in this way, when Zabarnyi cleared the ball off the line with the score at 0-0 – and Pedri. In fact, in his first hat trick As a Barça player – in a 2-4 draw at Betis with Xavi still on the bench – Lamine Yamal and the Canary Islander were two of the assistants for the three goals of the shark.

Physical and mental work

This appellation, that of mentality of shark, has its origins in the summer of 2023, when Ferran returned determined to leave behind the bad feelings of the previous two seasons as a Barça player. To get out of the hole he put himself in the hands of José Ángel Caperan, a mental health professional who also works with Eric Garcia, another standout against PSG. Ferran also has a personal chef, a practice he's been following for years—in fact, when he played for City, he had the same chef as Guardiola, at the recommendation of his former manager—and he doesn't skimp on physical and recovery work. Furthermore, competing with Lewandowski fuels his competitive mindset.

Ferran is quite methodical with the nutritional, physical, and rest guidelines imposed by the club. He also supplements his Barça workouts with private professionals. He has a sauna and a cold-water bath installed at his home to help with muscle recovery, as well as a hyperbaric chamber that helps oxygenate all the body's tissues and improve circulation. It's the non-negotiable routine of a hungry shark.