Barcelona is gearing up for significant activity during the summer transfer window of 2025, with notable interests centered on two players: Ferran Torres and Andrei Ratiu. The club faces numerous decisions as they prepare to boost their competitive squad for the future.
Ferran Torres, already established as one of Barcelona's key players this season, has tallied 11 goals and three assists across 30 matches. The 25-year-old forward has proven invaluable, often stepping up as an impact substitute. Yet, with Robert Lewandowski’s continued presence at the club and the likelihood of another forward joining this summer, Torres risks diminishing playing time.
According to Fichajes, La Liga rival Villarreal is interested in acquiring Torres. Under manager Marcelino, who is well-acquainted with Torres from their previous time together at Valencia, Villarreal is preparing to submit a €20 million offer. This move highlights their strategy to strengthen their attack, especially with Torres’s ability to adapt to multiple forward roles.
From Barcelona's perspective, selling Torres could provide much-needed financial relief amid their restructuring plans. Nonetheless, coach Hansi Flick is adamant about maintaining squad balance, stating he will only approve any transfer if there is a suitable replacement ready to come on board.
Meanwhile, Barcelona is also on the lookout for reinforcement at the right-back position, aiming to secure cover and competition for starter Jules Kounde. Sporting director Deco is leading the initiative, keeping his eyes on Rayo Vallecano's standout right-back Andrei Ratiu.
Ratiu, aged 26, has made remarkable strides since his impressive run at UEFA Euro 2024 and has attracted attention from both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. Amidst the swirling rumors of summer transfers, Ratiu remains committed to Rayo Vallecano. "I’m focused on my work and on Rayo, which is my team, and I respect them," he stated during an interview with AS.
Barcelona’s pursuit of Ratiu faces another layer of complexity; the Romanian international has a release clause set at €25 million, which Rayo Vallecano insists must be met without negotiation. Rayo's sporting director David Cobeno recently confirmed, “Andrei is a 50/50 player of ours; if someone wants to ask us about him, we can talk, but we will ask for the clause.”
This stipulation poses complications, particularly because Villarreal holds 50% of Ratiu's rights. Consequently, if the release clause is exercised, Rayo would only see €12.5 million from the deal, which they are understandably reluctant to agree upon hastily, particularly since Ratiu’s current contract extends until 2028.
Barcelona's transfer maneuverings will be influenced significantly by the club's current financial standing and adherence to La Liga's regulations. Now back within the 1:1 rule, the possibility of making substantial enhancements to the squad has reopened, though hefty sales are also necessary to fund new signings. Consequently, Brescia is likely to focus on more affordable signings for the right-back position since the overarching plan is to allocate the bulk of the budget toward securing new attacking talents.
The upcoming weeks will be pivotal as Barcelona weighs their options. The combination of interest from Villarreal for Torres and the budding demand for Ratiu from multiple clubs ensures an action-packed summer transfer window. With decisions looming, fans will eagerly await whether Barcelona can navigate these waters successfully to reinforce their ambitions for the future.