Ferran Torres has managed to do something quite impressive, and not in a good way. The Spain international has got Barcelona supporters turning on him, and all he really did was answer a question honestly. He left the door open to a potential move away from the club, essentially saying he wants to feel wanted, and the fans have not exactly taken that lying down.
Now, on one hand, you can understand why supporters are a bit narked about it. Barcelona have had their financial struggles well documented over the last few years, and the last thing they need is players publicly flirting with the exit door. When you pull on that shirt, you are expected to bleed for it, not start dropping hints about your future on a slow news day.
On the other hand, Torres is not exactly wrong, is he? Every footballer wants to feel valued. He had a decent World Cup with Spain and probably looked around and thought, right, where do I actually stand here? That is a fair question for any player to ask, even if the timing and the public nature of it felt a touch clumsy.
The reality is that Torres has never quite nailed down a regular starting spot at Barcelona. He has shown flashes of real quality and can play across the front line, but he has also had spells where he has been frustratingly inconsistent. Barcelona fans have seen enough of that from players who promised more than they delivered, so the patience is naturally running thin.
Whether he stays or goes probably depends on what Barcelona do in the transfer market and whether a new manager, or the current one, genuinely wants him as part of the plan. If the club make it clear he is valued, Torres might just stay and kick on. If they bring in competition or he senses indifference, a move becomes very likely come the summer.
It is not a scandal, it is just football. But Torres probably could have kept that one a bit closer to his chest.
Let me know your thoughts.