Barcelona have identified Aston Villa centre back Pau Torres as a potential reinforcement as the club seeks to shore up a defence that has come under pressure in 2025–26. Opponents have regularly exploited Barcelona’s high line, and the Catalans have conceded 20 goals in La Liga, the most among the top six.

According to ESPN, the 28-year-old Torres is viewed as a candidate to form a long-term pairing with Cubarsí. The report highlights Torres’s comfort on the ball and his aerial presence as qualities Barcelona value.

Barça’s interest dates back to Torres’s time at Villarreal, but he completed a €40 million ($47 million) move to Aston Villa in 2023 and signed a five-year contract that runs until June 2028. That history, plus his role under Unai Emery, makes any transfer complicated. Emery is unlikely to want to lose a defender who has become a regular starter and often plays 90 minutes in successive matches.

ESPN adds that Torres is open to a potential exit and would “listen” to Barcelona should the club make a “serious move” to sign him. The player’s willingness, however, would not guarantee an immediate transfer.

Any realistic pursuit is expected to wait until the summer. Barcelona need to create space on their wage bill for a deal to be feasible; both Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen are due to be out of contract at the end of the season, which could free salary capacity and generate additional funds.

For now Barcelona must cope with a shaky backline while remaining competitive. Despite the defensive issues, Flick’s side sits atop the La Liga table, four points clear of Real Madrid. That position gives the club some latitude as it considers whether to press for Torres when the transfer window reopens.

The 2025 Best FIFA Football Awards revealed men’s and women’s Teams of the Year that were shaped by last season’s major club achievements. Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League winners featured heavily in the men’s selection, while Barcelona and Spain supplied the bulk of the women’s eleven.

Gianluigi Donnarumma, who may have since moved on to Manchester City, was included after a season in which he was instrumental in PSG’s triumphs. The PSG presence continued with Achraf Hakimi, Willian Pacho and Nuno Mendes in defence and Vitinha in midfield. The forward line included 2025 Best FIFA Men’s Player Ousmane Dembélé alongside Lamine Yamal, with Pedri also voted into the XI. Liverpool centre back Virgil van Dijk was recognised for his role in the Reds winning the Premier League title, and English midfielders Cole Palmer and Jude Bellingham completed the midfield mix.

The full men’s XI named at the ceremony was: Gianluigi Donnarumma; Achraf Hakimi, Willian Pacho, Virgil van Dijk, Nuno Mendes; Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Vitinha; Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembélé.

On the women’s side, Spain and Barcelona dominated the selection, with four players from England’s Lionesses included after retaining their European Championship title. Aitana Bonmatí, voted Best FIFA Women’s Player for the third successive year, led a Barcelona contingent that also included Alexia Putellas, Patri Guijarro, Clàudia Pina, Irene Paredes and Ona Batlle.

Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey, who left Barcelona for the Gunners in 2024 and helped steer Arsenal to Champions League glory, was named in the lineup despite debate over individual awards. The women’s XI was completed by Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson and Alessia Russo.

Both teams reflect the season’s balance of club and international success as recognised by the 2025 awards.

Since the first ceremony in January 2017, the Best FIFA Football Awards have recognised individual excellence across the calendar year. The ceremony covers players, coaches, goalkeepers and goals, with honours handed out to men’s and women’s game figures based on their performances.

In the men’s player category Cristiano Ronaldo secured the early prizes for 2016 and 2017, while Lionel Messi has won most often with victories in 2019, 2022 and 2023 for his contributions at Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami and Argentina. Robert Lewandowski has two titles, tying with Ronaldo, and other winners include Luka Modrić and Vinicius Junior. The most recent winner in the men’s player category listed is Vinicius Junior in 2024 for Real Madrid.

The men’s goalkeeper award was first presented in 2017 to Gianluigi Buffon. Thibaut Courtois won in 2018 representing Chelsea and Real Madrid. Alisson and Manuel Neuer followed, with Premier League goalkeepers dominating later years: Édouard Mendy won in 2021 with Chelsea, Emiliano Martínez took the trophy in 2022 and again in 2024 for Aston Villa, and Ederson was the 2023 winner for Manchester City.

Among coaches Jürgen Klopp is the only multiple winner, lifting the prize in 2019 and 2020 after Champions League and Premier League success. Claudio Ranieri won the inaugural award for 2016, followed by Zinedine Zidane, Didier Deschamps, Thomas Tuchel, Lionel Scaloni, Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti in subsequent years.

The Puskás Award for the best goal has gone to a mix of lesser-known scorers and high-profile names. Recipients include Mohd Faiz Subri, Olivier Giroud, Mohamed Salah, Son Heung-min, Erik Lamela and Alejandro Garnacho, with other winners such as Dániel Zsóri, Marcin Oleksy and Guilherme Madruga.

On the women’s side Carli Lloyd won the first women’s player prize, with Lieke Martens, Marta, Megan Rapinoe and Lucy Bronze also honoured. Alexia Putellas won in 2021 and 2022 and Aitana Bonmatí in 2023 and 2024 for Barcelona. The women’s goalkeeper award began in 2019 with Sari van Veenendaal; Mary Earps won consecutive trophies in 2022 and 2023 for Manchester United, and Alyssa Naeher was the 2024 winner. Sarina Wiegman has collected the women’s coach award four times across her spells with the Netherlands and England, with Emma Hayes, Silvia Neid, Reynald Pedros and Jill Ellis also among past winners. The 2024 Marta Award was won by Marta.