Once again, Ferran Torres came up big for Barcelona.
The best of Ferran really is his shark mindset. Showing up where you don’t expect him, and going for the kill.
This season, across 30 games in all competitions, he has 13 goals. In La Liga specifically, it’s 7 goals in just 700 minutes played, which is a goal every 90 minutes. For Spain his tally is 21 goals in 48 games. Not bad.
Atletico de Madrid v FC Barcelona - La Liga EA Sports Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
The question, however, will always be twofold.
Can he do it as a starter for Barcelona?
And if so, at which position in Hansi Flick’s system?
For now, Flick seems thrilled to use Ferran as a supersub. And to his credit, Ferran has accepted the role without complaint, and made the very most of it.
What we haven’t seen under Flick, unlike Xavi, is a belief from the manager that Ferran can work on the wing. Instead, we’ve seen him as a direct replacement for Robert Lewandowski as a center forward, and on Sunday, in place of Dani Olmo in the ten. It’s notable, by the way, that Flick opted to go with Ferran instead of Gavi, although this was likely a tactical choice because of the circumstances in the game, with Barca trailing by a goal.
Atlético de Madrid v Barcelona - LaLiga EA Sports 2024/2025 Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images
Is the status of super-sub the best Ferran can do in a Barca shirt? Could he be the next Pedro if he sticks around under Flick for the next few years?
Maybe, if he continues to do well, he could make himself valuable as an asset on the market. But that would require cooperation from the player himself if he doesn’t see a bright future at the club.
Ultimately, the question for Ferran will be consistency. Coming off the bench takes away some of that pressure, and as a result, we’re seeing a talented player impact games with pure desire, because he knows he has nothing to lose in the select minutes given to him. This is a space he looks comfortable in.
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If he wants starting minutes, he’ll need to find a position on the field under Flick that he can call his own.
At the moment, that means knocking off Lewandowski, which isn’t going to happen, or competing with Dani Olmo, Gavi, and Fermín López in the more fluid position behind him.
Barcelona, however, will just be happy that they have such a dangerous player, ready and waiting, that they can turn to when the game is on the line.
Atletico de Madrid v FC Barcelona - La Liga EA Sports Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Ferran’s slick header to tie the game against Atletico Madrid was once again an illustration of a player with very high football intelligence. He doesn’t always execute, but he knows where to be, and how to read the game.
Flick as the coach, no doubt, appreciates what he has. Even if Ferran’s role is small the rest of the way, he’ll have opportunities in big moments to show how important he is.