Ferran Torres demands recognition as Barcelona weigh summer sale

Ferran Torres has told Barcelona he will only renew his contract if he feels genuinely valued by the club, prompting significant anger over the timing and location of his public comments during the Spain forward’s tour of the United States.

The 25-year-old’s remarks have caused concern within Barcelona, who believe the issue should have been addressed privately rather than through the media. According to Spanish newspaper Sport, the club has not received any official information about interest from Paris Saint-Germain in Torres.

Barcelona have already informed the player’s representatives that they intend to begin renewal discussions in September. The club has also made clear that it will not give in to what it considers pressure from Torres or those around him.

Under Barcelona’s current plan, any contract extension would be cautious and would not include a salary increase. The club does not intend to alter that position, regardless of external pressure. Torres would be free to leave if a proposal arrived that was considered fair for all parties.

The player’s decision to use the media to make his position known has particularly irritated the club’s sporting leadership. Torres has not spoken directly to Barcelona’s sporting department, but has referred publicly to offers for his services, including, at least, interest from Paris Saint-Germain.

His comments appeared to suggest that he does not believe he has been valued sufficiently by the Catalan club.

Torres is understood to be aware of interest from several clubs, but wants to hear Barcelona’s proposal before making a final decision. He is expected to assess both the financial and sporting aspects of any offer.

Although Barcelona’s formal renewal proposal would not be activated until September, the club is prepared to begin discussions immediately by providing detailed information about its terms.

For now, Barcelona have decided not to take further action or ask Torres for an explanation. They are waiting for the forward to clarify his position first.

Internally, however, the club does not regard Torres as a strategic player for its long-term plans. That leaves the possibility of a departure open, particularly if an agreement over a new contract cannot be reached.

The main question for Barcelona is whether the reported approaches from Paris Saint-Germain, or from any other club, are genuine. There is widespread scepticism within the club until concrete evidence is provided.

Barcelona are prepared to accept the risk of Torres leaving this summer because they consider that outcome preferable to losing him for nothing in 2027. The club invested €55m to sign him from Manchester City in 2022 and does not want to see that investment produce no transfer fee.

If negotiations fail, Barcelona will therefore attempt to sell Torres during the current summer transfer window.

From the player’s perspective, his dissatisfaction appears to have several causes. Torres was not regarded as a regular starter by manager Hansi Flick last season, despite periods in which his performances were considered better than those of Robert Lewandowski.

There is also frustration over the length of time Barcelona have taken to progress his renewal, particularly because the club has completed extensions for other players whose situations did not appear to be as urgent.