Villarreal – Pau Torres, the defender who shakes Spain

If the name of Ansu Fati vampires debates in Spain, the appointment of Pau Torres for the matches against Norway and Sweden has shone the spotlight on the central Villarreal. At 22 and only ten games Liga, the southpaw already joined the A de la Roja. This call rewards the great start of the season for the native of Vila-Real and provides an additional solution to support Sergio Ramos. Portrait of a central who climbs the ladder quickly without burning his wings.

Pau Torres, who is only 22 years old, starts his first season as a full member of Villarreal, but bears on his shoulders an already strong pressure. He, this perfect symbol of Roig's project, started a year before his birth. At that time, Villarreal was only a small club among others, without a project or a competent training center and with a stadium in decay. In 2019 everything changed. The yellow submarine has become a strong Liga club with a European liability. Despite a number of young launched in the big bath consequent, it lacked a guy of the vintage able to proudly represent the area. With the emergence of Pau Torres, it is filled, especially since the golgoth already has a high level of performance. Presentation of a boy in a hurry who amazes his little world.

Pau Torres, a linear training

The central, native of the region of Vila-Real, joined the yellow submarine very early, at the age of six years. He climbs the ladder one by one and physically forms while developing his reading of the game and its use of the ball. His name appears for the first time in Liga in November 2017. For the eleventh day of La Liga, he played six minutes against Sevilla. He plays a half-time the same season against Athletic, on the 31st day. At the same time, he becomes a manager of Villarreal's subsidiary, which evolves into Segunda B and which he joined in 2016. With B, he plays nearly sixty championship matches and participates in the Segunda roadblocks in 2018. His team is beaten in the final, but Pau Torres seems ready to take a step.

Although appreciated by his management, Pau Torres is sent on loan to Malaga the previous season. A club that has long woven close ties with the yellow submarine and seems appropriate for polishing the Torres Diamond. He joined Malaga shortly before the start of the championship but will soon become a must for Muniz and Victor Sanchez. Ten days after the formalization of his loan, the southpaw is facing Lugo for the first league game. For his first season at this level, Pau makes forty games out of forty-two.

The club is not yet entangled in its financial worries and performs, thanks to the arrival of Victor who raises the machine and reached the podium. Pau Torres is the defensive leader of the second best rearguard of Segunda. His reading of the trajectories, his ability to move well while being very comfortable with the ball impress. Malage scored a big disappointment against Depor in the semifinals of the play-offs, Pau Torres achieved his goal. He has confirmed his talent and returns to Villarreal filled with certainties about his game. What to pretend to great things in Liga.

Pau Torres, the pressure he drinks

In the summer of 2019, Pau is back in Villarreal without having been summoned to play Euro U21 with the Rojita. He attends his home selection by staying in touch with his friend Javi Ontiveros, who leaves Malaga for Villarreal at the very end of the transfer window. The southpaw knows that his explosion is expected. Just before extending his contract until 2024 with a clause of 50 million, he confides. "Villarreal has a powerful formation. I am the result of the dream that the Roig and Llaneza family had a long time ago ". A statement echoing another, collected by AS this summer.

"I am aware that many people want someone here, someone from Vila-real, to be an active member of the team and a protagonist. It's a big responsibility, but at the same time it's something very special and it makes me want to achieve it. It's a very good motivation, I have options to be there and work for it to happen. I hope I can live up to it. And I am aware of the illusion that is placed in me. "

This extension came a day before the announcement of Robert Moreno, while Pau Torres had played and trained with Raul Albiol a pair of very complementary power plant during the first seven days of La Liga. Associated with a veteran from whom he learns a lot, the solidity and serenity of the southpaw detonate. After a little shy beginnings, the central quickly showed the range of qualities seen in Segunda B and confirmed in Segunda. Despite an imposing physique (he exceeds one meter ninety), it is his tactical science that is obvious. "I am a more positional defender than brutal and fast, more to anticipate. I like to be in contact with the ball and I think I have the ability to raise from behind. " he confided to As.

This good start to the season was thus validated by Robert Moreno, who selected him for the matches against Sweden and Norway. The coach explained on the reasons for the arrival of a young person so experienced with Absoluta. "This season we are following him since the first minute. It has certain natural conditions that we like, a good output, tactically, it is an excellent central. Conform to what is expected of a defender. And what you need to improve, I'll tell you when I want without going into Calleja's work. It can be a great center in the future. " His left foot, his quality of stimulus and his ease to read the trajectories make on paper an appropriate complement to Sergio Ramos. An idea that the coach will be able to put in place.

A healthy environment to survive this runaway

In the space of a year, Pau Torres went from beginner to Segunda to international A. A logical progression in view of the qualities of the player but who can be concerned. Many players have burned their wings for less. However, Pau Torres did not change his daily habits. "I still live in Vila-real, near my family and friends. It makes everyday life easier. For me, it is an immense privilege to be loved by the people of my city. " Still in a cocoon, Pau Torres lives a childhood dream and appreciates the recognition around his excellent level.

As he took advantage of the big jobs in Villarreal to make a place for himself, he can help himself to the shake-up in his selection to start in the best way his international career. A symbol of Villarreal's club formation, a symbol of the renewal of the Spanish selection, which is more inclusive and less reserved for the ogres of the championship, Pau Torres has a real card to play during this truce. To him to seize the opportunity that will be granted to him, once again.

Benjamin Bruchet

@ BenjaminB_13

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