What will Barcelona do with new signing Pablo Torre in 2022-23?

Pablo Torre has completed the first objective he had this season: helping Racing Santander gain promotion back into the second tier of Spanish football.

Until June 30, he remains a Santander player, but on July 1, he officially joins Barcelona. A few days later, he will begin preseason with Xavi Hernandez's first-team squad.

Those first few weeks will be key in deciding what Torre's immediate future holds as he starts to look for a house in Barcelona. His next objective is to convince Xavi he deserves a place in the first team, but there are other options:

Option 1: Convince Xavi

This possibility can't be ruled out given his immense quality and the expectation deposited in him. It won't be easy given the competition for places, but people said the same about Pedri and Gavi.

Franck Kessie is signed but in Torre's favour is the fact he has very different qualities, so those two wouldn't be in direct competition in theory. Torre is also a great set-piece taker, something Barça are lacking. Xavi wants two players in each position, so we will also have to see what happens with Frenkie de Jong, Riqui Puig and even Nico Gonzalez.

Option 2: First team training, Barça B game

Torre's signing was announced by Barça B's social media accounts, but days later coach Sergi Barjuan said he was a signing for the first team.

In principle, though, he will be with the B team but training with the first team, although there are people at the club that believe he will never step foot in the second team, as happened with other players, like Pedri and Ansu Fati -- or Gavi, who featured very infrequently for them last season.

A lot may depend on what division the B team are in. A good run of results has propelled them into the playoff picture and they could yet gain promotion into the second division.

Option 3: Santander loan

Pablo Torre won't be one of those players that says he's always been a Barça fan to look good. His team is Racing, where his father played before him and where he has emerged as a star. After helping them win promotion, fans at the club are calling for him to stay for one more season.

If he does stay, it would be on loan, as happened with Pedri when Barça announced the deal before leaving him at Las Palmas for another year.

However, a loan to Racing would not make much sense if Barça B win promotion to the same division. A loan to a LaLiga club could also be considered, although for now is unlikely. In any case, everything is on the table and a decision will be made in preseason.