Ferran Torres is a ‘special’ footballer but he would be making a big mistake if he turned his back on Valencia to sign for Liverpool this summer, former Los Che hero Vicente Rodriguez has told Super Deporte.
One of the biggest and most historic institutions in Spanish football are known as a ‘selling club’ right across Europe and with good reason.
In recent years, Valencia have cashed in on a whole host of star performers, from David Silva to David Villa, Juan Mata to Nicolas Otamendi. And, with another academy graduate with glittering potential rejecting a new contract at the Mestalla, it seems only a matter of time before Torres is packing his bags.
The 20-year-old winger is due to become a free agent in 13 months. As a result, Valencia may have no choice but to sell for much lower than his £92 million release clause after Liverpool made contract with Torres’s representatives (Goal).
But Vicente fears that this may be a classic case of ‘too much too soon’ given that the Spain U21 ace has just 30 league starts on his CV so far.
“Ferran is a player with so much potential and you know that one day or another he is going to explode. The player is a bit special,” says a man who won the La Liga with Valencia in 2002 and 2004.
“It is normal for the agent to want to do his things or seek the best possible agreement for the player or himself. (But) for me, if he leaves I think he is making a mistake.
“He is young, I think he should renew with the club because I think he needs to play one more year at Valencia.”
According to Goal, Torres was offered a deal which would have made him one of the top earners in Valencia’s squad. With six goals, seven assists and a series of scintillating displays to his name in recent months, you can see why Albert Celades’s side would be so desperate to protect their prized asset at all costs.
And Vicente might have a point. Torres is pretty much guaranteed regular first-team football at Valencia, but the same could not be said at Liverpool.
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