According to Mundo Deportivo, Ferran Torres, while receiving tributes in his hometown of Fojos, said he needed time to process his and the team's achievements, adding that it was "perfect" to celebrate them in his hometown.
The 26-year-old Barcelona striker was honored in front of approximately 4,000 fans and locals on a large stage erected in the parking lot south of Fojos, in the L'Horta Nord region north of Valencia. The event commemorated his goal in the World Cup final against Argentina, which helped Spain win the title.
Ferran Torres was greeted with cheers as he entered the stadium. He repeatedly thanked his hometown people, saying, "Wherever I go, I say I'm from Fojos, and I'm very proud of that. It's simple: it's a perfect village, and everyone who brings me here loves it. I'll come back whenever I have the chance. With my current schedule, it's not easy, but I'm always happy to be back here, and it's a source of pride to be with everyone."
Ferran Torres, who had just returned from a media and event tour in New York, admitted: "To this day, neither the team nor I have really realized what we have achieved, nor have we really realized the joy we have brought to the country. I need time to process this, and there is no better way than to celebrate in my hometown." He also mentioned his high school years at Foyth and the training camp he held every year at the Foyth Sports Centre, calling it "one of the best training camps in the world."
Ferran Torres also invited Vicente, one of his best friends from Fojos, to the stage and recalled the hours leading up to the World Cup final: "I slept for nine hours, just thinking about getting closer to home and closer to the holidays. We took it all in stride because we're used to playing at the highest intensity." He also revealed that everyone in his WhatsApp group with friends and family was more nervous than him. He sent them a photo and told them to relax because he had a feeling he would be the protagonist in the final.
He said, "When I saw the ball bounce in front of me, looking back, I understand Iniesta's feeling of 'the world standing still' in 2010. I also felt that there was only the ball and me on the field, and I felt a power I had never felt before." He added, "We were very fortunate to be able to unite a country in 50 days, with everyone hoping that we would win the World Cup. This is something that cannot be measured in money."
When Ferran Torres was appointed Ambassador of Valencia at the Valencian Community Government Building in the morning, the approximately 200 people waiting for him were merely a prelude compared to the grand occasion in his hometown. Those who arrived earliest, three hours before the event began, persevered in the scorching sun and were rewarded with early entry and front-row seats. Ferran Torres, as in the morning, arrived with his family, was greeted by local officials, and then went on stage to greet his fellow citizens.
This was also the final stop of his series of public tributes and events following his goal in the World Cup final. He is expected to begin the next chapter at the João Gamper Sports City and return to the Barcelona team next Wednesday, August 12th. His future will be a major focus for Barça in the near future.
