There is a buzz around the figure of Ferran Torres again while Raphinha walks with the fly behind her ear. The Valencian striker heard whistles at the Camp Nou (far from the majority) after some unfortunate actions at Barça-Celta. The Brazilian was also substituted in the 63rd minute and has only played a full game. It so happens that the extremes, coming from the Premier, are the two most expensive signings of this Laporta project.
Torres, who arrived at the end of December, cost 55 million plus 12 in variables. For Raphinha, sponsored by Deco, 58 were paid, which could be 67. The weight of the money is taking its toll on the two investments, which have not come to fruition.
In Barcelona, the price can be a big slab. This was recently verified by Coutinho and Griezmann, the two most expensive signings in the club's history, above 120 million, which have finally been sold, with a difference of five months, both for 20 million each.
At 22 years old, Ferran is young but you can see he's outdone by his shirt. The competition that exists in attack, far from boosting him, is engulfing him. He does not create danger as in his first months. He did not center even once against the vigueses. The last straw was that he cleared a shot by Piqué that could have been the 2-0 that would have avoided the suffering.
In half a season, last year he scored 7 goals with 6 assists. This year he only has one target, against Viktoria. That was him a month ago. He did not even find consolation with Spain.
The Valencian is the top scorer of the Luis Enrique era in the national team. However, the Asturian coach decided to substitute him against Switzerland and Portugal when the team was not winning and needed to score. In Lisbon, Nico Williams came on for him and Athletic's man revolutionized the match and headed Morata's assist for the 0-1 that put Spain in the Nations League final.
The Brazilian, who will turn 26 four days before the final in Qatar, is also a fixture for Tite in the Verdeamarela and he did score (a brace against Tunisia) in the last break. At Barça he started strong from the start –decisive goal in the Las Vegas classic– but it has been diluted, perhaps because he often plays out of his position, the right winger, since Xavi has a predilection for Dembélé .
At Leeds, Raphinha was one of the references. In two seasons he scored 17 goals and distributed 12 assists. Blaugrana is having a hard time starting. So far, he has celebrated a goal (against Sevilla) and has facilitated another (to Lewandowski against Valladolid). Little for 550 minutes that he adds.
Against Celta, he centered seven times, he was in charge of the corners, he shot very hard in a rehearsed free kick and protested a lot an unsigned penalty by Galán. But he ended up on the bench, relieved... by Dembélé.
Both Ferran Torres and Raphinha when facing each other have another marker on top of them: the price. And at the moment they cannot haggle over it.
