Torres will "fight" to earn Barca starting position

Barcelona player Ferran Torres said on Friday that he looks to next season "with great desire" to prove that he is a "very good" player, which he has not been able to do before "due to certain circumstances".

"I want to see the Ferran that I am capable of becoming, which due to certain circumstances I have not been able to demonstrate, but I am focused on Barcelona, I have a contract, I want to stay at Barcelona and I will do everything to be a starter," he said at his football pitch in Foios, his hometown in Valencia.

The player declared that he was "emotionally and physically well" and reiterated that he is eager to continue at Barcelona to show the best of his abilities and that he not connected with possible offers to leave the club.

"This summer I have disconnected a lot, I have been very happy and I face the new season with a lot of desire and very motivated. I have not spoken to Xavi, when the preseason comes we will see. I want to see the Ferran that I am capable of achieving, I am a very good player, but due to certain circumstances I have not been able to show it," he commented.

Torres explained these different circumstances: "Last year I started with the issue of the foot, I could not play in the preseason, when I signed we did see a great Ferran, I helped the team, I came from a club like Manchester City that had a good project with me and Xavi came for me, which is something important and I think I helped the team. When I arrived they were seventh and we managed to qualify for the Champions League".

"On a mental level I'm a bull, no one is going to be able to beat me and that's what's important. If there's one thing I've realized is that you have to be strong, value yourself and have self-confidence because the top level is very demanding and it's very important. There are good days and bad days, but you have to maintain a line that keeps you stable," he said.

The Barca winger said that he will tell Xavi (Hernandez) the same thing: "I want to stay at Barcelona, last year I could not show the player I am, but this year I will go to 'full' to earn my place and fight with my teammates because I want to be here".

On a possible interest from Aston Villa he said he does not know "what bells are ringing".

"I'm disconnected from the press world, I'm focused on my own thing, on training, on starting the preseason well and showing what a great footballer I am," he said.

"I only know that I have an offer from Foios, I'm thinking whether I accept it or not and in the next few days you will know something," said Torres, who, on whether he has been told that he has to look for a way out added: "I have my phone on airplane mode, I have not yet been able to read messages. On July 10th I'll open my mobile again and we'll see, but I have a contract and I want to stay at Barcelona," he said.

Finally, he spoke about Unai Emery, coach of Aston Villa, that "he has been a reference point".

"He is doing things very well and you never know. Today I want to be at Barcelona, but football takes many turns," he said.