Barcelona are assessing their options after Gavi suffered what looks to be a torn anterior cruciate ligament on Spain duty. Generally they have had to trust youngsters when injuries have hit them in recent years, but one of the youngsters they could turn to is not amongst their ranks.
As per Sport, Barcelona are considering bringing creative midfielder Pablo Torre back from his loan deal at Girona. The 20-year-old has not had the game time that Barcelona expected when he moved north to Girona, and so far is yet to start. Playing 119 minutes in eight appearances, Torre also missed out entirely in their Copa del Rey tie against lower league San Roque Lepe.
🚨 Pablo Torre could come back, especially with Gavi's injury. @sport
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) November 20, 2023
The Blaugrana are able to sign in the January to replace Gavi as he is injured (long-term) without it being subject to the same salary limit rules as a regular signing. Torre is unlikely to be missed much by Michel Sanchez at Montilivi, but it will rob them of depth as they gear up for a big season.
On the one hand, Michel has had little opportunity to use Torre given their midfield of Yangel Herrera, Aleix Garcia and Ivan Martin has arguably been the best in La Liga so far. Equally, Torre was starved of opportunities under Xavi Hernandez last year too, and either he simply isn’t at the level required by La Liga yet, or the competition has been too stiff to allow him minutes. Xavi will either have had to change his tune on Torre, or have decided that there will be enough game time for him to return and not spend much of his time on the bench without Gavi. Otherwise, it would be a redundant move.
I for one wouldn’t be opposed to this move hes never going to replace gavi let’s be honest with all due respect no one will plus hes a different type of player than gavi,but if we are going to go out in the upcoming January transfer market and panic buy again and waste yet more money and time similarly like we did bringing in orel romeo then a big no thanks from me and i would definitely much prefer bringing young torre,the biggest problem i see being is firstly as you rightly state xavi changing his tune on him which i seriously doubt btw and secondly the player himself wanting to return whether he’s determined to prove a point to xavi and stake his claim in the team or he could refuse to return early from the loan feeling xavi was just using and needing him out of necessity,either way it will all depend on the loan agreement barca agreed with girona in the first place not just xavi and torre.