Ferran Torres: Man City announce ‘astonishing’ signing of Valencia winger tipped as ‘potential superstar’
Manchester City have signed Ferran Torres from Valencia in a deal worth a reported £20million, the Premier League club have confirmed.
Torres arrives at the Etihad having signed a five-year contract to become Man City's first senior signing of the summer transfer window, with Nathan Ake expected to follow from Bournemouth in a £41m deal.
The 20-year-old has been brought to City by Pep Guardiola as a direct replacement for Leroy Sane, who last month signed for Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
Still only in the early stages of his career, Torres has made 97 appearances for boyhood club Valencia and is regarded as one of the brightest prospects in European football.
He told City’s club website: “I am so happy to be joining City. Every player wants to be involved in attacking teams and Manchester City are one of the most attacking in world football.
“Pep encourages a really open, aggressive style, which I love, and he is a manager with a proven track record of improving players. To have him overseeing my development is a dream.
“City have won plenty of trophies in the last 10 years and I hope I can play a role in continuing that success.”
In fact, one LaLiga expert told talkSPORT Torres is 'potentially a superstar' and said he's shown similarities to current City aces Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez.
Last week, former Tottenham and Man United player Terry Gibson - who currently works as a Spanish football pundit - hailed Man City for this stunning piece of transfer business.
“It’s an astonishing transfer," he told talkSPORT, "because the circumstances of what we are in at the moment and I think transfer fees will begin to dwindle down a touch.
“Also the fact he only had a year left on his contract so Valencia are looking to take up a big building process and I think it’s been clear there must have been other clubs interested in him.
“He’s made it clear to Valencia that Manchester City is where he wanted to go and they are getting a sensational player.
"He’s been in the first team for three years, since the age of 17. He’s got Champions League experience and probably around 100 appearances already and is a sensational player.
“He’s lovely to watch and the Premier League will enjoy having him. He’s predominantly right footed but can easily control the ball and manipulate the ball with his left. He’s a dribbler, a wide player with pace. He has played behind the centre forward as well. So they are getting a stunning player.
"He’s probably very similar [to Sterling and Mahrez]. In terms of quality as well he will surprise a lot of people.
“We often get these young players that come over to the Premier League but I think he’s a good fit for City and Pep will get the best out of him.
“He’s an ideal replacement for Sane. He’s another one of those talented wide players Pep loves. Who’s to argue with what Pep Guardiola does?
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"At the age of 20 he’s showed he’s willing [to defend]. What we have to remember is that Valencia finished mid-table this year. He’s going to a team in Manchester City that predominantly dominate possession and will finish near the top of the division.
“They will dominate their opponents on a weekly basis and I think he’s show his willingness to tuck back and help.
“He can improve in terms of what he does when he gets back in those defensive positions but I think he’s going to enjoy playing in a team that has 60-70 per cent possession every week.
“I’m sure Pep is not buying him to worry about what he can do in defensive positions. He could potentially be a superstar.”