After a remarkable start to his Paris Saint-Germain career, Ferran Torres is facing questions over his recent decline and must now rediscover the goalscoring form that made him one of the club’s standout players at the beginning of the season.
French outlet Foot Mercato says the honeymoon period between Torres and Paris Saint-Germain is over, with the Spain forward struggling to maintain the sharpness that initially turned him into one of the most talked-about arrivals in the French capital.
Last summer proved significant for Torres. He won the World Cup with Spain and scored the winning goal in the final against Argentina, which Spain won 1-0 after extra time. He then joined Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth 48.5m euros.
Torres made an immediate impact, scoring twice on his debut against Rennes in a 2-2 draw. His goals helped Paris Saint-Germain avoid defeat after what had looked like a difficult match.
He continued that promising run by scoring against Brest and Marseille before the international break, then completed a hat-trick against Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League. His performances suggested he had plenty to offer in his new surroundings.
The forward also earned praise from inside the Paris Saint-Germain dressing room. Ousmane Dembele, who played briefly with Torres at Barcelona, said: “I was lucky enough to play with him a little at Barcelona. He is a real goalscorer and a proper striker who can also play on the wing. It is great fun playing with him because he has excellent movement and is easy to find on the pitch. We talk a lot and it is very smooth playing alongside him.”
Vitinha was similarly impressed, saying: “I hope he continues like this because he is standing out so much. We all have to do our very best to reach the same level of effectiveness. We are extremely happy to have him with us.”
However, Torres’ form has since faded. His most recent international break was disappointing, with an underwhelming display against England followed by a return to Paris Saint-Germain for treatment on pain in his left ankle.
He has not scored in the club’s past five matches and was left on the bench for two important games against Manchester City and Barcelona.
Against Barcelona, Torres was given 70 minutes after Ousmane Dembele was injured, but failed to make the expected contribution and received a rating of 4 out of 10 from Foot Mercato.
His display against Olympique Lyon on Monday was little better. He looked inconsistent and lacked the required threat in front of goal, earning a 5 out of 10 rating before being replaced by Senny Mayulu. Mayulu changed the game by scoring the opening goal.
Torres also missed four chances against Olympique Lyon goalkeeper Dominik Greif, another indication that he is some way short of the player who impressed during the opening weeks of the campaign.
The downturn is not yet regarded as a major concern at Paris Saint-Germain, but a prolonged scoring drought could increase the pressure on Torres, particularly given the competition for attacking places.
Friday’s Ligue 1 meeting with Le Havre, who are bottom of the table, offers Torres an opportunity to end his wait for a goal and rebuild his confidence.
