Barcelona's hierarchy have been left taken aback by the blunt public statements made by attacker Ferran Torres regarding his future, with the 26-year-old challenging the club's boardroom to prove they truly want to keep him.

The former Manchester City man has dominated headlines across Spain and much of Europe in recent weeks, heavily linked with a move to Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain as his Barcelona contract edges toward expiration in 12 months' time.

Speaking earlier this week about his upcoming renewal discussions with the Blaugrana brass, Torres made his feelings very clear, sending a direct message to president Joan Laporta and the board.

“What do Barça have to do? Show that they really want me, that they've come to negotiate. In the end, it's all about talking.”

However, as reported by Mundo Deportivo, those comments have not gone unnoticed behind the scenes at the Camp Nou. While Barcelona have not been left angered or 'lost their composure' with their attacking star, there is genuine puzzlement at the timing and tone of his remarks.

“FC Barcelona received Ferran Torres' latest statements with surprise. What was not expected is that he said the club has to show him that they want him when the club have already told him for weeks that they want to renew his contract but that it must be in September for 'fair play' reasons.”

The insistence on delaying talks until September is understood to relate to Financial Fair Play constraints that shape Barcelona's capacity to finalize new agreements. The club believes it has already made its intentions clear privately, making the public pressure tactic from the forward all the more unexpected.

With European heavyweight Paris Saint-Germain reportedly circling and the clock ticking down on his current deal, the coming weeks promise to be decisive in determining whether Ferran Torres extends his stay in Catalonia or heads for a fresh challenge in the French capital.