Gary Neville thinks Luis Enrique ‘doesn’t trust’ Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Pau Torres after he was snubbed of a start during Spain’s demolition of Costa Rica at the World Cup in Qatar, as he told ITV Sport.
With legendary figure Sergio Ramos left at home for the second tournament running by Enrique, the Spain boss opted to select the likes of Aymeric Laporte, Pau Torres and Eric Garcia as his centre-backs for FIFA’s biggest tournament.
But when Spain kicked off their World Cup campaign, it was Manchester City’s midfield wall, Rodri, that started at the heart of his nation’s defence, not Garcia, who has struggled at Barcelona, or Villarreal’s thriving star, Torres.
The 2010 World Cup winners could have selected just one bonafide defender, in the end, and still won because they slapped Costa Rica around and put a humiliating seven goals past them.
Whilst other teams will provide Spain with a much better test than the ageing and over-the-hill Costa Rica, it proved to be the right call by Enrique, as former England defender Gary Neville spoke about the lack of trust from the manager in Torres, who is highly-sought-after.
“Even at the back, you see Rodri there (at centre-back),” said Neville. “They don’t trust Garcia. The boy that was at Manchester City, and is now back at Barcelona.
“They don’t trust Pau Torres. They don’t trust him.”
JANUARY MOVE FOR TORRES?
There are Premier League clubs seemingly lining up to sign Torres during these forthcoming transfer windows, as Antonio Conte’s Tottenham have been long-admirers of the player.
But whilst the north London club can use the lure of Europe or the Champions League in trying to sign Torres, Aston Villa will be hoping they can use the powers of his former boss, Unai Emery, to bring him to B6.
In truth, it would be a serious coup for someone like Spurs if they managed to sign Torres, so, for Villa to get him would be a statement of all statements.
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