Xavi hails Pablo Torre after Barcelona confirm youngster's arrival

Barcelona boss Xavi has said that he is looking forward to working with Pablo Torre after the club confirmed his arrival from Racing de Santander.

The Catalan giants announced on Friday that they had reached an agreement with Racing for the transfer of the 18-year-old, who will officially move to Camp Nou this summer.

"FC Barcelona and Racing de Santander have reached an agreement for the transfer of player Pablo Torre. The fixed fee is €5m (£4.1m) plus variables depending on how the player develops in future years, which could surpass €20m (£16.5m). Torre will complete the season at his current club and will sign a contract on 30 June 2026, with his buyout clause set at €100m (£82.6m), and he will join Barca B from the summer onwards," read a club statement.

Xavi has called the teenager "a natural talent" who has "great passing ability", calling him "a signing for the present and the future".

"Pablo Torre? We have followed him. He is a natural talent, he can play both as an interior midfielder and as a winger, he can play with both legs, has a great passing ability and is great at set pieces. He is a signing for the present and the future," Xavi told reporters.

"Pablo Torre will have dynamics of the first team but as is the case with Abde and Jutgla, when they won't be able to play for the first team because of the great competition, they will contribute their talents in Barca B."

Torre, who is also believed to have been a target for Real Madrid and Real Sociedad, has scored six times and registering six assists in 21 appearances in the third tier of Spanish football this season.