Ferran Torres is enjoying a fantastic start to his adventure at Paris Saint-Germain, but the Spanish international has admitted that leaving Barcelona for the French capital was far from easy. Despite scoring an impressive seven goals in his first six appearances under Luis Enrique, the forward has opened up about the emotional and practical challenges of a hectic transfer window.
Leaving Catalonia during the summer transfer window represented a major challenge for the 26-year-old off the pitch. While his adaptation on the field was immediate, establishing a new daily routine, dealing with a new language and settling into an unfamiliar country proved much more difficult.
Fortunately for the forward, his transition to the Parc des Princes was made easier by several familiar faces. Torres reunited with manager Luis Enrique, whom he considers a father figure in football, while in the European champions’ dressing room he was also joined by fellow Spaniard Fabian Ruiz and former Barcelona academy product Dro Fernandez.
“It’s difficult: one day you’re here and the next you’re packing your bags,” he explained.
Despite the sudden change, the Spanish star maintained his sense of humor about the people he left behind in La Liga. He joked: “The only one I can’t take with me is Pedri.”
The challenges off the pitch do not appear to have affected his performances in any way. His run of seven goals in six matches has turned the forward into one of the key weapons in Enrique’s tactical system.
This exceptionally productive form at club level comes after a historic summer for the forward, who scored the decisive goal in Spain’s 1-0 victory over Argentina in the World Cup final.
His heroics on the world stage, combined with his consistency at club level, have deservedly earned him a place on the 30-player shortlist for the Ballon d’Or, alongside fellow Spaniards Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella and Rodri, as well as his PSG teammate Fabian Ruiz.