Barcelona has a thin selection this season, but they do have depth in two areas. Unfortunately for young midfielder Pablo Torre, one of the areas where Hansi Flick is blessed with options is in terms of creative midfielders who like to operate behind the front line.
Torre had a mixed loan spell at Girona last season and rarely got more playing time than the occasional starting start. However, after Xavi Hernandez appeared to dismiss him as an option for their first team, Hansi Flick has given the 21-year-old a lot more shine following a series of promising performances in pre-season.
However, the return of players from injuries, such as Gavi, Frenkie de Jong and Fermin Lopez, has made it difficult for Torre to find minutes. In the summer, Barcelona opened the door to a loan move for Torre, but he decided to stay and fight for his place. So far his contributions have also been good, with four goals and three assists in his 11 appearances this season. However, these appearances only last 361 minutes, giving him an average of a goal every 52 minutes.
The fact is that his opportunities are still few and far between. Apart from his Copa del Rey appearances, Torre has not featured since the end of November and has made just four starts, raising talk of a possible loan deal. Getafe were linked with Torre early in the transfer window, but it was always labeled as 'unlikely' that Torre would leave in the January transfer market.
Now MD says the decision is final, and Torre won't be going anywhere this month. He wants to fight for his place. Torre's versatility is valued by Flick and his staff, and for the club, his departure would also offer them little relief in their salary cap, as one of the lowest earners.
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