Hansi Flick’s Barcelona might only be three matches old but the signs are already positive for the fans to get behind. In the pre-season games so far, the Spanish side has played an attacking brand of football, winning all three games.
One player who scored in two of these three games was Pablo Torre. He scored the first goal under Hansi Flick against Olot and followed it up with an unbelievable finish against Man City in the first US pre-season game.
In the El Clasico last night, Torre did not get on the scoresheet but thrived yet again in the number 10 role in Flick’s system. As per SPORT, the German coach has even given the 21-year-old the keys to this team, putting him in charge of taking set pieces and corners.
In 64 minutes on the pitch against Los Blancos, Torre touched the ball 47 times, completed 30 out of his 35 passes, and won 3 out of his 5 duels. He was influential in the team’s buildup, further enhancing his case for a role in Flick’s squad.
It’s not like Xavi did not see the potential in Torre. It was the Spanish tactician who convinced the young Spanish midfielder to come to Barcelona over Real Madrid. However, there was no place for Torre in Xavi’s 4-3-3 setup.
Torre could not fit into one of the #8s in Xavi’s system. The coach himself conceded that the Spaniard’s issue had more to do with his work off the ball. After all, the #8 position involves more defensive responsibility than the #10 position.
Now that he is getting a chance to showcase what he is about in his natural #10 position, Barcelona fans are able to witness a special player in the making. If he continues in the same vein, Flick would want to keep him at the club.
Once Fermin Lopez and Pedri return, it will be interesting to see how Torre’s role changes. Barcelona are also confident of signing RB Leipzig star Dani Olmo who is predominantly an attacking midfielder.
At the moment, all Torre can do is to ensure he makes the right noises when given an opportunity. In a few weeks, it’ll be clear if the 21-year-old has a future at Barcelona. Let’s wait and see how it pans out.
