Barcelona have granted Ferran Torres permission to sit out training as the Spanish forward edges closer to sealing a move to Paris St-Germain, a deal reportedly worth in excess of £40m.
The 26-year-old, who scored the extra-time winner against Argentina to help Spain lift their second World Cup title this summer, was originally scheduled to rejoin Barcelona's training sessions on Wednesday. However, with the transfer to the French champions gathering pace, he will not be present as the finer details of the switch are ironed out.
Torres currently has just one year remaining on his contract at Camp Nou, a situation that has fueled speculation over his future for some time. His candid comments about a potential departure during Spain's World Cup celebrations have not gone down well with all sections of the Barcelona fanbase, some of whom felt his openness on the matter was untimely given the club's ongoing season.
Speaking during a media tour in the United States following Spain's triumph, Torres addressed the uncertainty surrounding his future. "I have a contract with Barcelona but, in football, you never know," he said. When pressed specifically on the interest from PSG, he added: "Every time these teams want you it's a good thing. You never know because in football everything can change in one minute, so I have to be ready for everything."
Should the move go through, Torres would link up with a PSG side who have established themselves as the dominant force in French football and have lifted the Champions League in each of the past two seasons. The Parisians are managed by Luis Enrique, who has strong ties to Barcelona both as a former player and head coach, adding an intriguing subplot to the potential transfer.
PSG's business this window has not been limited to incoming targets. The club could also see forward Bradley Barcola depart, with Liverpool understood to be interested in bringing him to Anfield. The comings and goings suggest a summer of significant squad reshuffling for the French champions as they look to build on their recent European success.
For Torres, a move to PSG would mark another chapter in a career that has already taken him across some of Europe's biggest leagues. He joined Barcelona in 2022 after two seasons with Manchester City, where he established himself as a versatile attacking option. Since then, he has continued to be a regular feature for the Spanish national team, amassing 25 goals in 65 appearances and playing a starring role in Spain's recent World Cup success.
The timing of the potential departure is notable, coming just as PSG prepare for a high-profile fixture against Aston Villa in the Super Cup final, scheduled to take place in Salzburg on Wednesday night. While Torres will not feature in that match, his arrival could soon bolster an already formidable PSG attacking unit as the club continues to assert its dominance domestically and aims to build further on its European pedigree.
Barcelona, meanwhile, will need to assess their attacking options going forward should the transfer be finalized, as they navigate the departure of a player who has been part of the squad for the past two seasons and contributed to the club's recent campaigns.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.