Pau Torres has added a personal layer to Tuesday's Barcelona and Aston Villa meeting in the UEFA Champions League by backing Lamine Yamal for the Ballon d'Or and speaking warmly about the challenge of facing him at Spotify Camp Nou.
Before the match, Torres gave an interview to Sport and made it clear he would have preferred to see a Spanish player win football's biggest individual prize. While Harry Kane's numbers were strong, Torres said he wished the award had gone to a player from Spain, and he pointed to Yamal as the player who deserved it.
"Les statistiques de Harry Kane étaient bonnes, mais j'aurais aimé que ce soit un joueur espagnol qui remporte le Ballon d'Or," Torres said. He added: "Je pense que Yamal le méritait."
Torres did not stop there. He said that if Yamal does not win the Ballon d'Or this year, it will happen soon because the Barcelona talent is already close to reaching that level. That view fits the broader sense around Yamal: even for an opposition player preparing to face him, there is little doubt about his standing.
"Et si cela n'arrive pas cette année, cela arrivera peu de temps après, car Lamine est tout proche de le remporter," Torres said.
Respect before the rivalry
Torres also described what it will mean to line up against Yamal. He said it will be a pleasure to play against him and to take on the responsibility of marking him in certain situations.
"Ce sera un plaisir pour moi de jouer face à Yamal et de me charger de le surveiller dans certaines situations," he said.
That blend of admiration and competition matches the tone Torres used when discussing Aston Villa's overall approach to Barcelona. He said the team feels no fear, only respect, and added that the match will be extremely difficult even if nothing is impossible.
"Nous n'éprouvons aucune peur, mais nous avons du respect pour l'adversaire," Torres said. "Nous savons que le match sera extrêmement difficile, mais rien n'est impossible."
Torres also turned his attention to Rodri, saying Barcelona would have been right to recruit him. Recent days brought the two players into contact, and Torres even shared an anecdote about the midfielder's time in university housing and a brief return visit before joining Atlético Madrid.
"Le Barça a-t-il eu raison de recruter Rodri ? Oui, sans aucun doute," Torres said. He described Rodri as humble and said football has not changed him. He also praised his all-around influence, calling him the best player in the world in his position.
"Rodri est un joueur humble, et le football ne l'a pas changé," Torres said. "Rodri contrôle le milieu de terrain avec une parfaite maîtrise, il apporte beaucoup à l'équipe sur les plans défensif et offensif, et c'est le meilleur joueur du monde à son poste."
With Barcelona and Aston Villa set to meet in the UEFA Champions League, Torres' comments add another layer to an already notable fixture. The match brings together admiration, rivalry and a clear sense that Villa are preparing for a major test, with Yamal's quality and Barcelona's experience both front and center.
