Torres can bring out the best in Messi and Neymar at Barcelona

With Neymar making his inevitable transfer to FC Barcelona, manager Tito Vilanova will have the attacking threat most managers would dream about. With Lionel Messi, Alexis Sanchez, Pedro, David Villa and Christian Tello in the squad it would make sense for Barcelona to look at players who would make them all shine. The a fore mentioned players already thrive but maybe Vilanova could do with a forward who can bring those players to life and score a few himself while providing a solid outlet by holding the ball up.

Fernando Torres, at a reported £17m, would fit the bill. He could help Barcelona tick by letting the showmanship of Neymar and Messi be the focus. When Ronaldinho signed for Barcelona he had the freedom to show off his exuberant skills. The forwards Barcelona had allowing Ronadinho a free role were Samuel Eto’o and Henrik Larsson. The pace and directness of Eto’o coupled with the trickery and goal threat of Ronaldinho needed someone to hold the ball up and play simple passes. Able to drop in to space outside the box and allow the other two the freedom to cause chaos. That was Larsson’s role. He would often be found wondering around deep centrally allowing Eto’o and Ronaldinho to come in from wider positions in to this newly vacated space.

This is what Neymar would need to succeed. Barcelona have changed somewhat to the team which Ronaldinho was part of but they would possibly need to revert back to these tactics to allow Neymar and Messi to have more freedom. This is where Torres would fit in.

David Villa has done a good job upfront but he is pushing 32 and hasn’t fully recovered from breaking his leg in 2011. Villa is an excellent goal scorer and technician but is less comfortable in the areas of the field Fernando Torres has shown an increasing willingness to occupy. Villa is at his best in the box, but that is where Barcelona will want Messi and Neymar to be.

Torres has the unselfishness nowadays to drift out in to that type of space and allow the goal getting to be done by others. Whether this is because of his own failings or his willingness to work for the team is debatable, but he has shown capability to do so. Torres would be an amazing forward for Barcelona as he shines in a Spain team which play similar tactics to the Ronaldinho era team at Barcelona.

Where if we assume that Messi is taking on the Ronaldinho role and Neymar the Eto’o role, this would allow Torres to play in the Larsson role. Although he’s lost his pace and sharpness he is still and intelligent and unselfish player and when he played in front of Mata, Hazard and Oscar for Chelsea last season he was able to bring out the best in them.

Torres would have to make a big decision this summer as staying at Chelsea and proving he is not a £50m flop could damage his chances of making the World Cup squad. Playing for Barcelona he would get the games and opportunity to prove his worth.

With Chelsea likely to spend on another forward and the undeniable talent of Romelu Lukaku likely to play more games this season, Torres may find next season at Chelsea unproductive and frustrating. He’s by no means a guaranteed starter at Barcelona, but if he shows that he will work hard to free up space for Messi and Neymar and do his defensive work, he can force his way in.