Hansi Flick has identified a talented, promising defender to replace the injured Alejandro Balde in Barcelona’s lineup.
With a demanding fixture list on the horizon, manager Hansi Flick must navigate this challenge to keep Barcelona’s momentum intact.
The German coach, renowned for his tactical acumen, has turned to the club’s storied La Masia academy for a solution.
A teenage prospect, who turned heads with his performances during pre-season, now has a golden opportunity to step into the spotlight, continuing Barcelona’s proud tradition of elevating homegrown talent to meet the demands of the first team.
The injury to Balde has opened the door for 19-year-old Jofre Torrents, a La Masia graduate who earned promotion to Barça Atletic last season.
According to Diario Sport, Torrents, currently the third-choice left-back, has impressed Hansi Flick with his consistency and tactical maturity, positioning him for a potential first-team role.
While Gerard Martin, who debuted this season at Vallecas, is likely to start in Balde’s absence, Torrents could serve as a key understudy or even claim the left-back spot.
Flick’s pre-season trials, which saw Martin deployed as a left-sided centre-back, may provide Jofre Torrents with a clear path to the starting lineup.
Torrents’ ascent is no surprise to those within the club.
Juliano Belletti, his former U19 coach and current Barça Atletic manager, has long endorsed the youngster’s potential.
Registered with Barça Atletic and donning the number 17, Torrents remains firmly in Flick’s plans, particularly as Eric Garcia and Andreas-Shackleton Christensen anchored the defense against Rayo Vallecano.
With Balde out, this moment could define Torrents’ career, offering him a chance to prove he belongs among Barcelona’s elite and reinforcing the club’s legacy of producing world-class stars from its academy.
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