Barcelona forward Ferran Torres: "I can be a shark or a megalodon"

Ferran Torres is in good form in every sense of the word. The player feels important, he is a starter in Xavi Hernández's team and he feels strong to continue growing. This is what he said at the press conference prior to the match between Barcelona and Shakhtar Donetsk this Wednesday at Montjuïc, corresponding to the third matchday of the Champions League group stage and in which the player from Foios will play again.

The forward is aware that he has everything in place to continue growing: "We are having a lot of injuries and I am ready to take that step forward, I feel very confident and ready for what is coming."

Ferran, despite being only 23 years old, has been in the elite for a long time: "I feel like an old man (compared to Barça's youngsters), but I try to give the advice I can because in the end, at their age, I was already there."

In that sense, he sees the youngsters coming through the youth ranks very well: "They are very strong, they have a lot of quality and are establishing themselves with a lot of starts. They have a lot of quality and they are settling in. Let them make the best of it because it is complicated to manage so much pressure and minutes in the elite, but they have enormous potential."

Most difficult club in the world

Despite having played for Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, Ferran takes Xavi's words about Barça being the most difficult club in the world as his own: "Yes, I totally agree (with Xavi), Barça is a club that is obliged to win all the competitions every year and the environment sometimes puts pressure on us. It goes with the history of the club, but it's a good kind of pressure for us because it allows us to be aware of where we are and what we have to do."

Shark or megalodon?

In that sense, the shark image with which the footballer has become associated allows him to grow mentally. So much so that, when asked if he can become a megalodon, a giant shark, he did not dodge the question and doubled the bet: "I don't have to gain confidence, I have enough, but I can improve a lot of things. I'm 23 years old, I'm at the beginning of my career, even though I've been doing it for quite a few years... Megalodon or shark? I can be both."

On the nickname, he acknowledged that "it's something that has had a lot of repercussions, but I didn't do it to create a facade or anything, simply because it was in the direction of my mentality. I'm proud because I'm seeing that for young people and people going through bad times, it can serve as an example for them."

Ferran Torres assures that "I feel important. Not only because I had a pre-season this year, but also because of the new additions. Competition makes a player better."