Who is Ferran Torres? The reasoning behind Man City's cut-price move

 

Manchester City wrapped up the signing of Ferran Torres from Valencia on Tuesday evening for £20.9m, with the winger penning a five-year deal at the Etihad Stadium. The Spaniard, acquired to cover for the departure of Leroy Sane, who departed for Bayern Munich last season, started 28 times in LaLiga for Los Che last month, making a further eight sub appearances, as he scored four goals and provided five assists. 

 

For a Valencia side that scored just 46 league goals last season, that's a fairly commendable return for Torres, who created 25 goalscoring chances in Spain's top tier last term. However, what was notable was the quality of the chances he forged. Indeed, his nine clear-cut goalscoring opportunities created was the 13th best in the league, while 54 successful dribbles ranked 20th in LaLiga and first of all Valencia players. Compared to Manchester City, that return would have placed him second behind Raheem Sterling (56).

 

While best positioned on the right, Torres is comfortable on either flank and the ability to ghost past an opponent, coupled with the knack of creating chances for teammates, means he should fit in nicely in Pep Guardiola's City side. The Spaniard favours a 4-3-3 system and the 20-year-old provides solid cover for Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling on both sides of the attack. 

 

 

City didn't necessarily miss Leroy Sane given the German's injury issues last season, but an additional winger to break down staunch opponents is no bad thing. Of the nine league matches City lost last term, five were by a single goal, and with the decision to allow five subs to be used next term, Guardiola has that additional goalscoring threat that will help the club in their quest to topple Liverpool at the top of the table. 

 

The defence may be a priority for City this summer, and the club are looking to rectify that issue with the impending capture of Nathan Ake, but when a player of Torres' calibre and potential comes on the market for half of what City sold Sane to Bayern for, you don't turn down the oportunity to improve the attack. 

 

The Spanish youngster remains a diamond in the rough, and his work off the ball needs developing - one of his WhoScored weaknesses is 'defensive contribution - yet he'll be working under one of the best in the business in Guardiola, and playing alongside the likes of Mahrez, Silva and Sterling, which will aid Torres and City.

Who is Ferran Torres? The reasoning behind Man City's cut-price move