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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Joseph McBride

Ferran Torres bursts into tears as team-mates console Barcelona star at full-time

Barcelona 's main January signing Ferran Torres was in tears at the final whistle as his side drew 1-1 against Napoli, despite the Spaniard scoring from the penalty spot to level the tie.

Torres arrived for an initial £45million from Manchester City to help the Catalan side rebuild under new boss Xavi Hernandez, but it's been a stuttering start for the 21-year-old.

Barcelona were wasteful throughout the 90 minutes against Napoli, and the majority of their clear chances fell to Torres, who missed all of his opportunities from open play.

Torres may have scored Barcelona's only goal, but the weight of expectation appears to be weighing the Spaniard down, and he couldn't contain himself at full-time.

Ferran Torres couldn't hide the tears at full-time against Napoli (David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Barcelona had 21 attempts against Napoli during their Europa League first leg at the Nou Camp, and three clear goal-scoring opportunities fell at the feet of Torres.

Napoli on the other hand, only registered four attempts, although Piotr Zielinski opened the scoring against the odds, and has helped the Italian side take a very respectable score back to Naples.

Torres was a very emotional figure at full-time, and it's clear that even though he scored during the match, that he felt partly responsible that Barcelona didn't win on the night.

The Spaniard was soon comforted by team-mates before he buried his face into his shirt, and Torres has been consoled and even boosted by Barcelona legends away from the field too.

Xavi Hernandez was quick to lift Ferran Torres (Marc Graupera Aloma/Europa Press via Getty Images)

Xavi gave Torres the highest of praise, by comparing him to Luis Suarez, as the Uruguayan suffered a similar issue in front of goal when first arriving at the Nou Camp.

The Barcelona boss said: "I have remembered it in the locker room, it also happened to Suarez in his first games, the Barca shirt weighs a few kilos more.

"I am delighted to have Ferran Torres, it is a matter of time and to continue believing, he knows that he has our trust absolute."

Legendary defender Carles Puyol also backed the new signing, as he told SPORT: "Ferran Torres gives us a lot joy. Visca Barca."

Ferran Torres missed a heap of chances against Napoli (REUTERS)

Torres is still extremely young, and at the age of just 21 the Spaniard has already played for Valencia, Manchester City and Barcelona, while representing his country in the European Championships too.

Xavi is clearly very impressed by the youngster, and backed him even further, as he added post-match: "He has to change the chip, he has scored a goal that has given us the tie.

"He is not going to affect him, I and the staff will take care of that. He was angry with himself."

The best way for Torres to react, is with a statement performance against Napoli in the second leg, as Barcelona look to combat their Champions League disappointment with a run in the Europa League.

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