Barcelona sign Ferran Torres from Man City

Barcelona have completed the signing of Ferran Torres from Manchester City.

The Spain forward has joined Barca on a five-year deal until 2027 and the club have set his buyout clause at €1billion (£841,735,504.40m).

Barca will pay an initial £46.3m (€55m) plus a further £8.4m (€10m) in add-ons for the forward. Some £5.9m (€7m) of those add-ons are said to be more or less guaranteed.

The Spanish club agreed a deal to sign Torres from City in the week leading up to Christmas.

The 21-year-old is regarded by Barcelona as one of Spain’s most promising talents. They are able to spend in January after recently receiving sizeable investment via a bank loan.

The club have said Torres will be officially unveiled at the Nou Camp and shall attend his first training session and press conference on January 3.

Torres joined City for an initial fee of £20.8m plus bonuses on a five-year deal in August 2020 but has played only four times in the Premier League this season, scoring twice, and once more in the Champions League.

Ferran Torres celebrates during Spain's win over Italy
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Ferran Torres has scored 12 goals in 22 caps for the Spanish national team

Torres departs the Etihad Stadium having scored 16 goals in 43 appearances for City in all competitions. He also helped Pep Guardiola’s team to the Premier League and Carabao Cup last season.

He has been sidelined since October with a foot injury suffered on international duty with Spain.

City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain said: “Ferran should be proud of what he has achieved here at Manchester City.

“Last season was his first time in a new country, but he adapted well. He always gave 100 per cent, worked hard for the team and scored goals which helped us win trophies.

“Injury unfortunately prevented him from playing more games this season, but Ferran is a player we have all enjoyed working with and we wish him all the best at Barcelona and for the rest of his career.”

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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Manchester City’s win over Leicester in the Premier League

Torres’ arrival in Catalonia comes with former City team-mate Sergio Aguero having announced his retirement earlier in December after being diagnosed with a heart condition just months following his move to Barca.

Prior to his move to City, Torres attracted interest from Barca, Real Madrid and some of Europe’s top clubs as a result of his exploits at Valencia.

A graduate of Valencia’s academy, he made his first-team debut in 2017 and went on to score nine times in 97 matches and helped them to the Copa del Rey in the 2018/19 season.

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Euro round-up: Juve win, Barcelona held

Juventus ended the year on a positive note by beating relegation-threatened Cagliari 2-0 on Tuesday to close the gap to the top four in Serie A.

Moise Kean and Federico Bernardeschi scored as Juventus moved to within four points of Atalanta, who were surprisingly held to a 0-0 draw at struggling Genoa.

Atalanta were in fourth place and the final Champions League spot. Juventus had struggled at the start of the season but things are starting to click under returning coach Massimiliano Allegri and they came into the match having won five of their past six matches, drawing the other.

They almost took an early lead but Kean headed Juan Cuadrado’s cross off the far post.

He did better five minutes from half-time when he headed in Bernardeschi’s cross following a superb run from the winger.

Bernardeschi got on the scoresheet himself seven minutes from time when he turned in a pass from Dejan Kulusevski, for his first goal since July 2020.

Atalanta tried everything but could not find a way past a resilient Genoa team and missed the chance to move into second place in Serie A.

It was one-way traffic but when Atalanta did find a way through the defence they were denied by good saves from Genoa goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu.

Atalanta could have moved a point above Napoli and AC Milan before their games on Wednesday.

Genoa remained in the drop zone but inched to within two points of safety.

Salernitana’s match at Udinese was not officially postponed but could not take place because of a coronavirus outbreak at the visiting club.

Salernitana were blocked by local health authorities from traveling to Udine after at least two members of the team tested positive for COVID-19.

La Liga: Barcelona held by Sevilla

Barcelona failed to make up much ground on the top four in La Liga as they were held to a 1-1 draw at 10-man Sevilla.

Sevilla, second in La Liga behind Real Madrid, took the lead through Papu Gomez after 32 minutes following an Ivan Rakitic corner, but Barcelona levelled on the stroke of half-time thanks to a Ronald Araujo header from Ousmane Dembele’s corner.

Sevilla then had to see out the game from 64 minutes with 10 men after Jules Kounde saw red for violent conduct, after hurling the ball into the face of Jordi Alba.

But Barcelona could not capitalise, as they sit in seventh place, three points off the top four.

Elsewhere, there was a 5-2 win for Villarreal against Deportivo Alaves. Gerard Moreno and Boulaye Dia scored twice each for the home side, Yeremi Pino added another.

Barca agree £55m deal to sign Man City’s Torres

???????Barcelona have agreed a deal that could total £55m with Manchester City to sign Ferran Torres.

The Spanish side will pay an initial £46.7m (€55m) plus a further £8.5m (€10m) in add-ons. Some £5.9m (€7m) of those add-ons are said to be more or less guaranteed.

It means City will have made at least £27m (€32m) on a player they paid Valencia around £20m (€23m) for in 2020.

They have not paid any of the agreed add-ons to Valencia due to the limited time he has spent at the Etihad.

Barcelona regard Torres as one of Spain’s rising talents and have money to spend in January after recently receiving sizeable investment via a bank loan.

Their relationship with City is also strong; City officials including Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano used to work for Barca president Joan Laporta during his previous reign at the club.

Ferran Torres goal celeb Manchester vs Arsenal Premier League
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Torres, 21, has played only four times in the Premier League this season

Barca have also shown interest in signing Raheem Sterling but City want to keep him and he has recently returned to some of his best form in a City shirt.

Torres, 21, has played only four times in the Premier League this season, scoring twice, and once more in the Champions League.

He has been sidelined since October with a foot injury suffered on international duty with Spain.

‘Barca have good agreement with City’

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Spanish football expert Alvaro Montero provides the latest on Barcelona’s pursuit of Manchester City forward Ferran Torres after a deal was agreed

Spanish football expert Alvaro Montero says Barcelona are able to finance the deal, and stay the right side of Financial Fair Play, by virtue of agreeing a flexible payment structure with Manchester City.

“First of all, there is a bank credit [loan] for Barcelona signed with Goldman Sachs, and, in the last few weeks, they have leaked to the press they have got some savings. That means a little bit of cash, but not enough to pay that amount of money,” Montero told Sky Sports News.

“They have a good agreement with Manchester City, that means good payment conditions. Barcelona will pay for this transfer not in one or two years, but maybe in three, in four, in five years.

“To fulfil this move, Barcelona believe one or two players may leave.”

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Euro: Nico stunner gives Barcelona late win over Elche

A stunning late goal from 19-year-old substitute Nico gave Barcelona three precious points as they beat Elche 3-2 at the Nou Camp in La Liga on Saturday.

After two league games without a win and a humiliating 3-0 loss to Bayern that knocked them out of the Champions League in the group stage for the first time in almost two decades, Barca’s coach Xavi Hernandez was desperate for a win to take some of the pressure off his player’s shoulders.

Xavi’s bet on his younger players appeared to pay off as Spanish youngsters Ferran Junglat and Gavi both scored early on to give Barca a 2-0 lead.

But in the second half, Elche scored twice in two minutes through Tete Morente and Pere Milla.

Nico’s superb strike in the 85th minute saved the day, however, helping Barca climb one spot in the standings to seventh, two points off the European qualifying places but still 15 points behind league leaders Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, a Lucas Ocampos strike in the final minutes of the match gave second-placed Sevilla a 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid.

In a feisty match between two sides that are trying to stay in contention with league leaders Real Madrid, Sevilla came out on top.

Atletico Madrid
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Felipe equalised for Atletico Madrid

They now have 37 points, putting them five behind Real, while Atleti fall to fifth place on 29 points, leapfrogged by surprise team Rayo Vallecano, who beat Alaves 2-0 earlier in the day and remain unbeaten at home this season.

Ivan Rakitic gave Sevilla the lead early in the first half with a fabulous long-range strike that could be a contender for goal of the season.

Felipe equalised from a corner, timing his jump perfectly and thumping his header past Sevilla goalkeeper Bono.

But right before stoppage time, Ocampos reacted quickly to smash in a shot after a Thomas Delaney header came off the crossbar.

Serie A: Abraham helps Roma beat Atalanta

Tammy Abraham was on target for Roma
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Tammy Abraham was on target for Roma

Tammy Abraham scored two goals as Roma put on a counter-attacking clinic to stun Atalanta with a 4-1 win and climb to fifth place in Serie A.

Jose Mourinho’s side finished the game with 29 per cent possession and eight shots to Atalanta’s 17, but they were far more efficient with their chances.

England striker Abraham scored inside the opening minute with a deflected strike, and Nicolo Zaniolo doubled Roma’s lead by finishing off a quick counter-attack for his first league goal of the season.

Gian Piero Gasperini was quick to make a change, bringing on Luis Muriel after 34 minutes, and the Colombia international’s strike cannoned off Roma’s Bryan Cristante for an own goal that got the hosts back into the match on the brink of half-time.

Atalanta pushed for a leveller and thought they had it when Jose Luis Palomino nodded in from close range at a corner, but he was offside.

Mourinho’s team scored a third four minutes later when Chris Smalling volleyed home his second goal in two games, marking the first time in Serie A history that two different English players have scored in the same game.

Abraham swept in his second of the afternoon with eight minutes remaining to take his tally for the season to six goals in Serie A.

Goals from Alvaro Morata and Juan Cuadrado either side of half-time gave Juventus a 2-0 win at Bologna in thick fog to lift the Turin club to sixth place in Serie A.

Morata fired home a first-time finish after six minutes to put the visitors in front, but they were second best for much of the match as Bologna dictated the tempo.

Sinisa Mihajlovic’s side could not make their possession count, however, and Colombia defender Cuadrado punished them when his deflected strike flew into the top corner midway through the second half.

Bundesliga: Dortmund end 2021 with defeat

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Highlights of the Bundesliga match between Hertha Berlin and Borussia Dortmund

Second-placed Borussia Dortmund slumped to a year-ending 3-2 defeat at Hertha Berlin on Saturday to go into the winter break nine points behind leaders Bayern Munich.

Hertha’s Marco Richter struck twice in the second half as Hertha came from a goal down to score three times against a makeshift Dortmund defence.

The visitors, looking to close the gap with Bayern following their 4-0 win over VfL Wolfsburg on Friday, enjoyed a strong start even though in-form Jude Bellingham was missing due to suspension, and central defender Mats Hummels and ‘keeper Gregor Kobel because of illness.

They could have scored with a string of good chances before Julian Brandt cleverly dinked the ball over keeper Alexander Schwolow to put the visitors in front in the 31st minute.

The hosts, however, equalised six minutes after half-time when Ishak Belfoldil slotted the ball under reserve ‘keeper Marwin Hitz.

Richter put Hertha 2-1 up in the 57th with an outstanding finish, placing the ball into the top far corner.

The 24-year-old forward then thundered home on the rebound in the 69th with the Dortmund defence in chaos after an error by Brandt on the edge of the box.

Substitute Steffen Tiggen rose high to drill in a header and cut the deficit seven minutes from time

Dortmund are second on 34 points, with Bayern top on 43. Bayer Leverkusen, third on 28, are in action on Saturday against Freiburg. Hertha’s win moved them away from the relegation zone and into 11th place on 21 points.

Erling Haaland shows his dejection in defeat
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Erling Haaland shows his dejection in defeat

RB Leipzig’s hopes of a fresh start under a new coach are fading after losing at home to 10-man Arminia Bielefeld 2-0.

Japanese midfielder Masaya Okugawa scored the second goal in the 75th minute, not long after Fabian Klos was sent off for a bad challenge on Leipzig defender Willi Orban.

Janni Serra put Bielefeld in front from a rebound, and Leipzig were unable to make their undoubted attacking prowess count, with Andre Silva, Angelino, Christopher Nkunku and Benjamin Henrichs all missing chances.

It was the first loss in three games for new Leipzig coach Domenico Tedesco, who took over after the club dismissed Jesse Marsch. It leaves Leipzig in ninth, far from the Champions League qualification places.

Hoffenheim defender Kevin Akpoguma scored in injury time to deny Borussia Monchengladbach their first win after a run of four defeats, drawing 1-1. Breel Embolo had the visitors on their way to victory, but they failed to stop Akpoguma equalising in the 91st minute.

A brilliant early goal from Max Kruse was enough for Union Berlin to finish the year on a high after winning 1-0 at Bochum. Kruse got married on Thursday and fired home the winner in the 16th minute when he met Grischa Promel’s lay-off with a half volley inside the top left corner.

Eintracht Frankfurt earned a 1-0 victory over visiting Mainz to make it three Bundesliga wins in a row as they climbed to fifth place before the start of the winter break.

Jesper Lindstrom slotted home the winner in the 35th minute, with the Dane scoring for the third consecutive match.

Last-placed Greuther Furth held Augsburg to 0-0.

Europe: Real win Madrid derby | Barcelona held by Osasuna

Barcelona let three points slip from their grasp at Osasuna as a late stunner from Chimy Avila secured a 2-2 draw for the hosts in La Liga on Sunday.

Deprived of seven key players through injury, Barca coach Xavi Hernandez was forced to turn to his youngsters and 19-year-olds Nico Gonzalez and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli both scored as the visitors twice took the lead.

But Osasuna levelled first through defender David Garcia and then almost in stoppage time, through a low shot from Avila from outside the box that deflected in off Samuel Umtiti’s right foot.

Barcelona are eighth in the table, still outside the European qualification places and 15 points off leaders Real Madrid.

Xavi had told reporters on Saturday that he was worried after their 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich which saw them exit the Champions League at the group stage for the first time in almost two decades.

He said the club needed a reset, to create a new Barcelona.

Yet their performance on Sunday in Pamplona was more of the same, as his team continued to struggle to create opportunities and to keep their opponents at bay.

Barca opened the scoring in the 12th minute when 17-year-old Gavi found Nico with a precise long through-ball that broke Osasuna’s defensive line and left him all alone inside the area to score.

Osasuna responded immediately as Garcia connected with a perfect header that went in close to Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s right post.

It then became a nervy encounter with few clear opportunities. Barcelona’s second goal arrived from a counter-attack, created when Osasuna’s players were complaining about a handball from Sergio Busquets.

Ousmane Dembele sprinted between the hosts’ disrupted defence and crossed for Ezzalzouli to volley home powerfully.

Osasuna never gave up, however, and found the equaliser with an Avila effort that left Barca stunned.

Marco Asensio celebrates after his goal in the Madrid derby
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Marco Asensio celebrates after his goal in the Madrid derby

Real Madrid won 2-0 against a listless Atletico Madrid, a 10th straight win in all competitions that tightened their grip on top spot in La Liga.

Karim Benzema, who had been a doubt for the game with a leg injury and only played the first 45 minutes, made the most of his time on the pitch, hitting a beautiful volley from Vinicius Junior’s perfect cross to open the scoring in the first half.

It was the 17th goal of his career against Atletico and 13th of the season to lead the La Liga scoring chart.

Vinicius Junior did not score but was man of the match after earning another assist early in the second half, this time for Marco Asensio as Real extended to 11 their unbeaten streak against their local rivals in La Liga.

Carlo Ancelotti’s team are currently cruising at the top of the table, eight points clear of second-placed Sevilla and 13 above Atletico in fourth, albeit having played a game more than both.

Luis Suarez confronts David Alaba during the Madrid derby
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Luis Suarez confronts David Alaba during the Madrid derby

Real Betis maintained their impressive form after routing Real Sociedad 4-0 to stay in third place, just one point behind local rivals Sevilla in second.

Left-back Alex Moreno scored twice and assisted Juanmi Jimenez for the striker to net his 10th league goal of the season and his sixth in the last four games. Nabil Fekir chipped in with another goal.

Also Sunday, Villarreal beat Rayo Vallecano 2-0 at home.

Serie A: Inter Milan top after rout

Lautaro Martinez scored twice as Inter Milan cruised to victory
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Lautaro Martinez scored twice as Inter Milan cruised to victory

Inter Milan climbed to the top of Serie A in style as Lautaro Martinez’s double helped them thrash Cagliari 4-0 at the San Siro.

The champions dominated from start to finish to earn their fifth league win in a row, with Argentine striker Martinez getting the scoring up and running with a bullet header in the 29th minute.

Martinez could have doubled his side’s advantage before half-time, but saw a tame penalty saved. The hosts did not have to wait long for their second, however, as Alexis Sanchez – on a rare start – volleyed home five minutes after the break.

Cagliari were dead and buried from that moment on, and Hakan Calhanoglu soon added a third.

Martinez completed the scoring in the 68th minute with a delicate finish after bringing Nicolo Barella’s inch-perfect long pass under control, while a host of further chances came and went to make the win even more comprehensive.

With AC Milan and Napoli both dropping points this weekend, Inter took full advantage to hit the summit, one point ahead of city rivals Milan, while Cagliari dropped to 19th having taken 10 points from 17 matches.

Empoli celebrate after their victory against Napoli
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Empoli celebrate after their victory against Napoli

A bizarre goal prevented Napoli from moving top of Serie A as they lost 1-0 at home to Empoli.

Empoli scored the only goal of the match in the 70th minute. A corner was floated in from the left, Napoli midfielder Andre Anguissa headed it onto the back of Patrick Cutrone’s head at the near post and the ricochet took the ball into the back of the net.

Napoli also hit the woodwork twice – once in the first half when Eljif Elmas’ 20-yard effort cannoned off the crossbar. The seocnd came after Empoli had taken the lead when a fierce strike from Andrea Petagna came off the base of the right post.

Juan Jesus did have the ball in the back of the net after a goalline scramble, but it was ruled out for offside.

Atalanta put their Champions League disappointment behind them as they fought back to win in Verona and set a new club record of six successive away victories.

Aleksej Miranchuk canceled out Giovanni Simeone’s opener in the first half and Teun Koopmeiners scored what was to prove the winner in the 62nd minute – thanks in part to a huge deflection off Verona defender Adrien Tameze.

Two Sassuolo goals in six second-half minutes from Domenico Berardi and Giacomo Raspadori saw the home side fight back to beat Lazio 2-1. Mattia Zaccagni had got Lazio off to a great start by scoring in the sixth minute.

Torino beat Bologna 2-1 to inch further away from the relegation zone.

Ligue 1: Mbappe double sees Monaco beaten

Kylian Mbappe scored twice during PSG's victory
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Kylian Mbappe scored twice during PSG’s victory

Paris Saint-Germain continued their march towards the Ligue 1 title when a Kylian Mbappe double earned them a clinical 2-0 home victory against Monaco.

Mbappe found the back of the net with a penalty and a precise strike in the opening half to put the league leaders on 45 points from 18 games, 13 ahead of second-placed Marseille, who have a game in hand.

Senegal striker Bamba Dieng scored with a stunning acrobatic volley as Marseille won 2-0 at Strasbourg to move up to second place.

Jorge Sampaoli’s team put on a solid defensive display to resist Strasbourg’s press and then broke the deadlock near the hour mark when Dieng connected with a cross from Luis Henrique and unleashed his right-footed bicycle kick to send the ball into the back of the net.

Duje Caleta-Car sealed Marseille’s win in the 81st minute, heading home a corner kick from Dimitri Payet at the near post.

Goalkeeper Anthony Lopes kept his team afloat with a pair of decisive saves as Lyon secured a 0-0 draw at defending Ligue 1 champions Lille.

Nice continued its good form on the road to end a three-match winless run with a 2-1 victory at Rennes, with goals from Kasper Dolberg and Youcef Atal.

The hosts got one back through Benjamin Bourigeaud’s effort in the 59th minute and pushed hard for an equaliser, but Nice defended well until the end.

Metz secured an emphatic 4-1 win over fellow strugglers Lorient to leapfrog their opponents in the relegation zone.

The hosts got a brilliant start and led 3-0 after 18 minutes. Lorient defender Moritz Jenz injected some suspense into the game with a left-footed shot from close range reduced the lead, but Ibrahima Niane put the game to bed with a fine header from Farid Boulaya’s assist.

Angers were upset 1-0 at home by Clermont. Bordeaux also won 2-1 at Troyes.

Bundesliga: Frankfurt beat Leverkusen in thriller

Eintracht Frankfurt came from behind to beat Bayer Leverkusen
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Eintracht Frankfurt came from behind to beat Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen threw away a two-goal lead to lose 5-2 at Eintracht Frankfurt and miss the chance to put pressure on Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich.

Two early goals from Patrick Schick briefly seemed to have put Leverkusen in control, but Brazilian defender Tuta soon responded with a volleyed goal for Frankfurt before Jesper Lindstrom equalised on the counter-attack.

Evan Ndicka gave Frankfurt the lead for the first time in the 50th minute on the rebound, before Kristijan Jakic and Djibril Sow extended Frankfurt’s lead.

Promoted Greuther Furth finally achieved a historic win in the Bundesliga, but no fans were there to see it.

Norwegian striker Havard Nielsen’s goal was enough for Furth to beat Union Berlin 1-0 for their first win of the season, though Furth remain bottom. It was also the club’s first-ever home win in the top division after failing to win any of their home games in their only previous Bundesliga season in 2012-13.

Cheers from club staff echoed around the stadium after Nielsen’s deflected shot during a scramble in the box in the 56th minute. Furth’s home state of Bavaria ruled last week to bar fans from sports events after a rise in coronavirus cases. Union stays sixth.