Barcelona attacker Ferran Torres 2024/25 season review | Sempre Barca | OneFootball

Back in June, few would have predicted the position FC Barcelona now find themselves in. When Hansi Flick took over from Xavi Hernandez, expectations were muted.

Xavi’s final season in-charge of the Catalan club was marred with controversy and the performances on the pitch left a lot to be desired. Flick’s previous stint with the German national team was a complete disaster and the appointment didn’t create the kind of excitement that it ideally should have.

However, one season since, having tasted La Liga glory, it must be said that Flick feels like an inspired appointment. It is not just about the results and the brand of football, but also how well he has improved the players in the existing squad to make them realise new levels in their game.

The story, as it unfolded:

Ferran Torres is the flag-bearer of the list of players who has improved under Hansi Flick. The player has been given a defined role of being the back-up number nine rotating with Robert Lewandowski and he has benefitted from the same.

Ferran Torres and his ‘shark’ mentality. (Photo Credit: The Official Website of FC Barcelona)

Mostly used as a super-sub from the bench but also getting his fair share of starts in recent weeks, Ferran has put up impressive numbers for someone who is not the first name on a team sheet. The 25-year-old played 45 games for the Catalan club this season, scoring 19 goals and providing 7 assists.

Ferran has always been an intelligent player who made clever runs into the box, but his confidence in front of the goal and ability to finish clear-cut chances has taken a leap in the right direction. That has been the major difference.

Unfortunately for the €28m-rated forward, the fag end of his season has been cut-short by an emergency surgery after being diagnosed with appendicitis. Thus, Ferran will be missing the last few games for his side but will hope to return stronger.

What do the numbers say?

Having played most of his football as a number nine this season, Ferran has offered a different option to Robert Lewandowski for Hansi Flick. More efficient as making runs in-behind the defense, the German coach has been able to exploit a few game-states using the Spaniard.

Ferran Torres is a very different number nine to Robert Lewandowski (Source: DataMB)

The Barcelona number 7 has been involved in a goal every 73 minutes this season. He has scored 8 goals coming off the bench, making him the third-highest scoring substitute in Barcelona history. Of course, there are more contributions like the space he creates for fellow attackers Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, which cannot be measured by numbers.

The 25-year-old has a nPxG of 0.77 per 90 and xA of 0.40. He has a shooting accuracy of around 57.89% and has a conversion rate of 1 goal for every 3.8 shots taken. Ferran has been vocal about how therapy has helped him out from a mental health point of view, and it is translating into numbers on the pitch. [Stats: FootyStats]

Ferran Torres compared to other La Liga strikers. (Source: DataMB)

In comparison to other La Liga strikers, Ferran is ranking above the 80th percentile in most of the metrics. The 24-year-old Spaniard has made the number nine role his own and it helps that Hansi Flick is willing to give him that fixed position, unless it is a necessity.

What’s next for Ferran Torres?

The next logical step in Ferran’s evolution is going to be whether he can make that step-up from being a squad player to a more integral part of the setup. In the upcoming season, would he be able to challenge Robert Lewandowski for the starting berth?

Thinking slightly long-term, Barcelona will also have to use the upcoming season to identify if Ferran Torres can be their designated number nine once the Polish veteran hangs up his shoes. These are important steps in the evolution of the 25-year-old.

What’s next for Ferran Torres? (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)

Sempre Barca’s season rating

Back in 2022, Ferran Torres made a bold statement:

“Haaland and Mbappe? My mentality is such that I can compete with them, I know how far I can go.”

While he hasn’t yet reached those dizzying heights, this season marks a turning point. Ferran has grown leaps and bounds as a footballer this season and for the first time since his move from Manchester City, it feels like Barcelona are getting their return on investment. However, the Spaniard is far from the finished product.

At 25, Ferran is entering a defining phase of his career—no longer a prospect, not yet in his prime, but already proving his worth. In Flick, he has a coach who trusts him, a system that suits him, and a club that might soon rely on him even more as Lewandowski’s role evolves.

If Ferran can take that final step from impactful squad player to indispensable starter, Barcelona could find themselves with not just a return on investment but a forward ready to lead the line into the next era. Let’s not count our chickens before they hatch, shall we?