Santiago Canizares questions Barcelona’s timing of Ferran Torres sale

Santiago Canizares says Barcelona chose the wrong moment to sell Ferran Torres, after the forward had overcome a difficult start and reached what the former Spain and Real Madrid goalkeeper considers the most mature and settled stage of his career.

Torres has joined Paris Saint-Germain for 50m euros, a decision Canizares believes makes little sense despite the fee involved. Speaking as reported by Spanish newspaper Sport, he said Barcelona had been right to sign Torres in the first place but had made a mistake by allowing him to leave just as he was beginning to make a decisive impact.

Barcelona have been active throughout a busy transfer window. The club have signed Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi and Jesse Bisiou, while continuing negotiations over potential deals for Rodri and Joao Cancelo. They are also searching for a recognised centre-forward, with Argentina international Julian Alvarez reportedly their leading target.

There have also been several changes to the existing squad. Ansu Fati, Jan Virgili and Inaki Pena have departed, while Ronald Araujo and Marc-Andre ter Stegen have left on loan. However, Torres’ move to Paris Saint-Germain remains the transfer that has generated the strongest reaction from Canizares.

The former goalkeeper reflected on the difficulties Torres experienced after leaving Valencia for English football. He said the move presented the forward with major challenges, particularly the demands of adapting to a high-level team, and that those problems affected both his opportunities to play and his confidence.

Canizares believes Barcelona showed good judgement when they originally committed to Torres, but argues that the club have ended the relationship at precisely the point when the player was beginning to flourish.

“Barcelona signed him intelligently, and it is difficult to adapt to Barcelona. He ends up adapting, he ends up shining, he goes through the best moment of his career, he scores a goal in the final, and now it is time to sell him. It is the opposite,” said Canizares.

He was also unconvinced that the 50m-euro fee provided sufficient justification for the sale. Canizares questioned whether Barcelona could find a proven striker of comparable quality in the transfer market for the same amount.

“Do not let him go for free, but 50 million euros is not a gift. He is a striker who scores goals; go to the market and see what you can get for that amount,” he added.

Canizares stressed that his criticism was not a reaction formed after the deal was completed. He said he had consistently opposed the decision throughout the summer, maintaining that Barcelona had chosen the wrong time to part company with Torres.

“I kept repeating this throughout the summer, and I cannot understand it,” he said.