Right next to the relief that immortalizes Nando Yosu in El Sardinero, the greatest sentimental legend for racing, Alfredo Pérez, president of Racing, received this afternoon Arturo Canales, representative of Pablo Torre and that he arrived at the offices of the Verdiblanco stadium to finish closing the transfer of the footballer from Soto de la Marina to Fútbol Club Barcelona. It was exactly 6:15 p.m. when the AS photographer recorded the moment.
Arturo Canales, Valencian, CEO of the AC Talent agency, has been in charge of Pablo Torre’s affairs for a year, whose career his family had directed until that moment, he is one of the agents in clear ascendancy of Spanish football and in addition to the Cantabrian midfielder advises Xavi Hernández and Gerard Piqué with whom he is now going to coincide in his new club. He also has coaches like Unai Emery, a great friend of Esteban Torre, Pablo’s father, with whom he both played at Toledo, or footballers of the stature of Ander Herrera, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Robin Le Normand, Lucas Vázquez or Rakitic, among others.
Arturo Canales, going at 18:15 to the door of the Racing offices, where he was received by the president of the club, Alfredo Pérez.
Nacho Cubero (AS)
Canales had been negotiating with the leaders of the Real Madrid academy, who wanted Pablo Torre to reinforce Castilla, but the emergence of Barça in the last two weeks changed the equation. The meringues spoke of a commitment to the future in the key of the quarry, while Barcelona offered a first-team environment from the outset, with pre-season included, although with the option of playing for Barça B when Xavi Hernández did not plan it. Obviously, the amounts offered by the Catalans to both the player and Racing were much higher. Premier League teams were also interested, but Pablo’s entourage, which has always managed his career very cautiously, has not considered that it was the time to try English football.
Despite the fact that Racing weighed the option of being tied to the ten million termination clause, they were quickly convinced by Arturo Canales, who has mediated with the three parties, to sign up for a ‘Pedri-style’ operation: five million fixed, more variables that could take the operation above 15 million euros. These are bonuses related to the performance of the player and the games he plays in the first team and in no case are they linked, as far as Racing is concerned, to the titles he can obtain at his new club. The Santander team will also have a percentage of 3.25%, for training and promotion, in future transfers to the international market.
Pablo Torre, who has signed a contract for four seasons, until June 30, 2026, will continue to play matches with Racing until the end of the season and his dream is to be able to say goodbye to racing from the balcony of City Hall, celebrating promotion to Second . It so happens that one of the best friends of the Torre family, and a regular at their house, is Quique Setién. To whom not long ago Pablo asked curiosities about his stay at the Nou Camp. Soon they will be able to exchange experiences.