Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez is thrilled to seal the signing of Pablo Torre, speaking to Sport after Rangers missed out on the Racing Santander starlet.
Two years ago, the Catalan kings snapped up a skilful, baby-faced prince of a playmaker from the Spanish lower leagues.
One who, just a few weeks into his Barcelona career, was being labelled the ‘Signing of the Century’ after a mesmerising performance against none other than Juventus in the Champions League group-stages.
Given the similarities between their playing style and their background, you can see why some have labelled 18-year-old Pablo Torre ‘the new Pedri’.
Like the Spain international whizzkid, Torre joins Barcelona join a lower league club. This time Racing Santander rather than Las Palmas.
And though his signing sets Barca back just £4 million up front, the fact that he already has a 100 million euro release clause in his Camp Nou contract shows just how highly Torre is regarded by one of Europe’s bonafide superclubs.
Is Pablo Torre Barcelona’s next wonderkid?
“We have been following him a while,” explains Xavi.
Barca fought off competition from La Liga rivals Real Madrid and Scottish Premiership champions Rangers (Daily Record).
“For me, he’s a natural talent. He can play in midfield, out wide, he’s two-footed. (He) has a great final ball, scores goals and is great from set plays. He’s very young, 18, but he’s a natural talent.
“He has the ability to play for Barca for many years. It depends on him now, on his attitude. But he is a humble kid from a football family — his dad played for Racing as well.”
Xavi points out that Torre, a balletic and stylish attacking midfielder in the mould of another former Racing starlet, the mercurial Sergio Canales, will join the likes of Ferran Jutgla and Abde in Barca’s B team before pushing for a first-team role.
“It’s a great signing for the present and the future,” the 2010 World Cup winner adds.
“He will play with the B team, in the style of Ferran Jutgla and Abde, if necessary. Because it’s important at that age to play football. And it’s not easy to get minutes in the first team at that age.”
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