{"id":81213,"date":"2026-09-05T14:20:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-05T14:20:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/81213\/"},"modified":"2026-09-05T14:20:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T14:20:11","slug":"the-quality-ferran-torres-takes-cheap-swipe-at-former-barcelona-teammates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/81213\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018The Quality\u2019\u2014Ferran Torres Takes Cheap Swipe at Former Barcelona Teammates"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ferran Torres bluntly admitted that the biggest difference he has encountered at Paris Saint-Germain since leaving Barcelona is simply \u201cthe quality\u201d of the players and the capacity of the manager.<\/p>\n

Torres burned plenty of bridges with the way he engineered a move away from Catalonia over the summer. After scoring the World Cup-winning goal for Spain against Argentina, the striker remained Stateside, embarking upon a series of provocative morning show appearances in which he repeatedly questioned his future at Barcelona.<\/p>\n

The back-to-back Spanish champions were not inclined to stand in the way of an unhappy player and ultimately agreed<\/a> a $57.9 million (\u20ac50 million) exit for the 26-year-old. It was telling that while Hansi Flick openly mourned the exit of Marcus Rashford\u2014after only one season working together on loan\u2014there has been little said about the club\u2019s joint-top scorer in La Liga last term.<\/p>\n

Torres hasn\u2019t been nearly so quiet.<\/p>\n

Ferran Torres throws out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium. pic.twitter.com\/pYogLTe2Jm<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sports Illustrated FC (@SI_FootballClub) August 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

When pushed to identify the biggest differences between the two teams\u2014who are both among the favorites for this season\u2019s Champions League title\u2014Torres told assembled media: \u201cAbove all, the dynamism, the speed and the quality of the players.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow the coach [Luis Enrique] gives freedom, and how he explains something and then it actually happens. Ultimately, I think that makes the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

PSG\u2019s quality is scarcely in doubt. The back-to-back Champions League winners have been imperious in the knockout stages of Europe\u2019s premier club competition for the last two years running. In the most recent vote for the Ballon d\u2019Or<\/a> to crown the world\u2019s best player, PSG boasted eight of the 30 nominees.<\/p>\n

However, Barcelona are not exactly short of star talent. Lamine Yamal finished second to Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 in that vote while Torres\u2019s former teammates Raphinha and Pedri also ranked in the top 11. Flick\u2019s dominant domestic force have added the best player at the 2026 World Cup<\/a> to their ranks this summer.<\/p>\n

Barcelona will soon have the chance to put Torres\u2019s claims to the test.<\/p>\n

Torres Previews \u2018Very Emotional\u2019 Champions League Grudge Match With Barcelona\"Ferran<\/p>\n

Ferran Torres scored twice on his PSG debut. | Franco Arland\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

In a wonderful wrinkle, PSG have been paired with Barcelona in the Champions League<\/a>. Torres will welcome his former employers to Paris on Oct. 20 in the third round of league phase fixtures. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a special match against FC Barcelona<\/a>,\u201d he grinned. \u201cI played there for four and a half years, so it will be very emotional. We\u2019ll try to win, but we\u2019ll see. I think PSG is the best team in the world right now, but that means we\u2019ll be under more pressure than the others.\u201d<\/p>\n

Torres isn\u2019t the only familiar face for Barcelona. PSG are spearheaded by Demb\u00e9l\u00e9, who was booed by the Camp Nou crowd at times during a difficult spell in Spain, while Luis Enrique remains the last Barcelona manager to win the Champions League for the club back in 2015. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey are two different teams, with more or less the same playing philosophy,\u201d Torres said of a side molded in Enrique\u2019s image. \u201cI still need to keep adapting, but when I saw the training sessions, I could confirm why they\u2019ve won the last two Champions League titles; hopefully, they\u2019ll help me win my first and their third in a row.\u201d<\/p>\n

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