2023-24 could be the season Ferran Torres breaks through at Barcelona. He has begun his third season with the Catalan side on a hot streak, netting in both the games he's played so far this season, both times coming off the bench.
He sealed Barca's victory against Cadiz with an injury-time goal, having been on the pitch for less than 10 minutes. He also pulled his side level against Villarreal, this time with just five minutes on the turf, as they edged the Yellow Submarines in a seven-goal thriller.
That makes him the Catalans' top scorer so far, having played only 32 minutes so far in La Liga. If you add this to his stunning pre-season form as well, that puts him at five goals in just over 160 minutes - a remarkable turn of form from the 2022-23 campaign.
Although under contract until 2027 at the Camp Nou, the Spaniard had been pegged as one of the possible departures this summer, just a year and a half after his €55 million-move from Manchester City in January 2021.
The player's drive to succeed at Barcelona has undoubtedly played a large part in the change, as he declared several times over the summer that he wanted to "earn" his place under Xavi Hernandez, and looks to be making good on his word so far.
As Barcelona travel to Madrid on Sunday to take on Osasuna, it is likely that Torres will start again on the bench, but will be looking to continue his impressive form, should his coach decide to put him on when the Catalans need a goal.
August 28, 2023