Barcelona forward ditches Olympics to focus on pre-season with club
According to a report by Luis Rojo in MARCA, Ferran Torres has chosen not to participate in the Olympic Games as he wants to concentrate on his responsibilities with Barcelona and be present for the start of their pre-season training.
Recently, there has been a lot of speculation about whether Ferran would manage to participate in both the European Championship and the Olympic Games.
He is currently playing in the continental championship and even scored the winning goal against Albania. Interestingly, many thought he might attempt to play in both tournaments.
However, this will not be the case, as Ferran will remain with his national team only until the end of the Euros. Afterwards, he will take a short vacation before joining Barcelona for pre-season training.
It is said that this was not an easy choice for him, as he was very excited about the prospect of competing in the Paris Olympics, but he realised that doing so would create problems for his club.
What kind of problems?
Reports suggest that Hansi Flick has pressured the Sports Directorate to ensure that all players are available at the start of the season and this would not be possible for those who participate in the Olympics.
Ferran understands his duty to Barcelona, and after playing in the Euro Cup, he needs to return to the club and prepare for the new season. Since the coach made his decision, the choice has already been made.
Flick’s plan is straightforward. He aims to start the season strongly, which means having all players ready from the beginning. This message has been communicated to everyone in the Barcelona squad.
A messed up timeline
If Ferran tried to participate in both the Euro Cup and the Olympics, he would finish in mid-August.
He would then need a vacation and would have to do a separate pre-season training, meaning he would not be in full form until well into September. This timing would be too late.
This is why he made the tough decision to prioritize his commitment to Barcelona. He will focus on finishing the European Championship and then prepare for the new season with his club.