How Barcelona can sign Ferran Torres from Man City for a transfer fee over $60 million

Barcelona has agreed to a $62 million deal to sign 21-year-old Manchester City forward Ferran Torres, according to multiple reports. 

Some of those reports, including Sky Sports, have indicated the deal could eventually reach $70 million with other performance-based payments and add-ons. Man City was reported to be seeking $80 million for a player it acquired for $28 million in 2020.

The Spain international, who hasn’t played for City since September due to a foot injury, is set to join Xavi’s side in January when the transfer window opens. The question is how the financially-troubled Catalan side can make such a signficant investment given the tight budget with which it’s operating in 2021-22.

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According to reports, Barcelona will now have to focus on offloading players from its first-team squad as it looks to appease La Liga’s financial fair play rules before it can officially add Torres to the squad.

What is the Ferran Torres transfer fee?

It has been widely reported that Barcelona has agreed to a transfer fee structure with Man City to acquire Torres, who would sign a five-year deal with the Spanish side. The Liga club will pay an initial fee of nearly $57 million for Torres, with an additional $11 million in reported add-ons to follow.

It’s expected that both clubs will announce the news in the coming days.

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Valencia, meanwhile, will receive 10 percent of the transfer, having added that stipulation to its agreement with City, plus an additional four percent from the add-ons.

Barca’s sporting director Mateu Alemany undertook the negotiations for the Spain international, who is keen to return to his homeland after leaving Valencia in August 2020.

Manchester City’s leadership has close ties to Barcelona from ex-player and manager Pep Guardiola to former Barcelona VP and current Man City CEO Ferran Soriano and Man City director of football Txiki Begiristain.

How can Barcelona afford to pay for Torres?

Barcelona’s financial woes have been well-documented, and reports are that players will now have to leave to ensure Torres can be registered for La Liga competitions.

Due to revenue losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the club had its salary budget set at $113 million for the 2021-22 season (down from nearly $450 million). That figure is based on a La Liga formula that takes revenue, costs and debts into account and ensures teams only spend 70 percent of revenues. For teams that are over their assigned salary budget, they can only spend 25 percent of any new revenues or cost savings. 

The slashing of its salary budget made it surprising that Barcelona joined Real Madrid in declining to accept a cash injection loan from venture capital firm CVC, which provided all the other La Liga teams with timely resources in exchange for a share in media rights. It remains to be seen whether Barcelona goes back on its original decision and comes to an agreement with CVC.

Sergio Aguero’s decision to retire due to a heart condition will free up his salary, with others needing to be offloaded, either on loan or, more preferably, in permanent transfers.

Barca will reportedly listen to offers for many of their first-team squad, aside from a few untouchables including the likes of Pedri, Gavi and Ansu Fati. Big-earners including Samuel Umtiti and Philippe Coutinho are among those in the shop window, and rumors are that Sergino Dest, Clement Lenglet, Frenkie de Jong and Luuk de Jong could be among the potential transfers out.

There are also a few players with expiring contracts this summer that would also help clear space, including Ousmane Dembele and Sergi Roberto, though Dembele is said to be keen on signing a new deal at Barcelona.

The club also still must leave room to register Dani Alves in January, with the veteran Brazilian right back having arrived from Sao Paulo this past summer. Barcelona was unable to register him for competition at that time due to the struggling financial situation.

Man City profits on Ferran Torres

Torres represented great value when he joined Manchester City in the summer of 2020 but he has struggled to force his way into Pep Guardiola’s plans. Competing for a place as a winger with players such as Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva is not easy, although he often made his biggest impact as a central striker.

For a player who has made 43 total appearances for the club, flipping Torres for nearly double what he cost just a year and a half ago can be considered a massive win for the Premier League side.

During his brief Man City career, Torres played in 28 Premier League games, scoring nine goals and assisting three otheres, while also contributing four goals across seven Champions League appearances.