Castro behind move to get La Liga veteran Xavi Torres to Perth Glory

Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi Torres could make his way to the A-League this season with discussions under way between the 30-year old and Perth Glory.

Sporting Gijon's Xavi Torres (L) vies with Barcelona's Neymar (R) during La Liga last season. Source: AFP

Glory’s own Spanish maestro Diego Castro is understood by The World Game to be the man who has linked the two parties with the duo having played together during the 2012-13 season at La Liga side Getafe.

The Western Australian side are in desperate need of a midfield enforcer after Rostyn Griffiths was sold to Uzbek side Pakhtakor Tashkent, a deal that netted the Glory a sizable transfer fee and made Griffiths one of the highest-paid Australians in Asia.

However, with the deal only being struck a fortnight ago, the Glory have had to use all their connections to source a player capable of filling the gap – which is when Castro suggested Torres would be the ideal fit.

Pay however, may be the stumbling block in securing Torres, who spent the last season at Sporting Gijón, and whether he's prepared to trade the riches of La Liga for the lifestyle in Perth.

The tenacious Torres – who came through the academy of Villarreal – played 17 games in La Liga for the Asturias side last season but couldn’t prevent them from falling back into the second tier.

He was once linked with a move to Premier League side Everton but has spent his entire career in Spain.

Torres has a reputation for not only being technically strong but for throwing his weight when required, picking up six yellow cards in the last campaign and 12 cards in the 2014-15 season with Real Betis as they claimed the Segunda Division championship.

However, the free agent has been something of a journeyman across Spain in recent years, having enjoyed spells at Getafe, Levante, Malaga and three years at Real Betis before his most recent stint at Gijón.

Earlier in his career, after impressing at Alicante CF, Torres spent two years at Barcelona B and was a key player under Pep Guardiola during the legendary coach’s maiden spell in management.

Torres impressed enough in the Segunda Division to make two La Liga appearances for the Catalan giants in 2009, but was allowed to leave soon after.