FC Barcelona have one game to play, against Atletico Madrid, before the upcoming international break arrives. As a number of Blaugrana players have the chance to be active with their national teams during this break, the Catalans are closely attentive to the possible call-ups for these upcoming international matches.
As already reported, the Barcelona gem Pau Cubarsi has the chance to get his first senior team call-up for Spain at only 17 years of age. Similarly, Fermin Lopez can also be a part of the Spain squad for the upcoming friendlies against Colombia and Brazil.
However, according to Mundo Deportivo, one of the players whom Barcelona do not want to be called up for these friendlies is the winger Ferran Torres, and the Catalans have asked RFEF not to call the forward up for their upcoming two friendlies.
The Spaniard is a regular feature of Luis de la Fuente’s team, and the coach has known him since his time in the youth categories. However, he is currently out with an injury and was unable to recover in time for the match against Napoli.
Having suffered an injury to his femoral biceps of the right thigh on 31 January, the winger is now expected to return to training this Friday, the same day that De la Fuente will announce his Spain squad.
Torres might get the clearance for the upcoming Barcelona match against Atletico Madrid, but even for this match, he is not expected to start from the start and would get only a few minutes at best to get back to full fitness and regain the lost match rhythm.
As for Spain, the two upcoming games are only friendlies, with nothing at stake. Thus, it would also be in De la Fuente’s interest to allow the winger to rest, so he can be in top shape for the major European tournament this coming summer.