Spain's World Cup final hero Ferran Torres has addressed the controversy surrounding his "Make Spain Great Again" hat, explaining that the headwear was not intended as a political statement.
Torres wore a red cap resembling former President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" hats, but with the slogan altered to "Make Spain Great Again," during the team's celebrations in Madrid. The choice of hat drew attention from political observers and Trump himself, who interpreted it as support for his movement.
However, in an interview with CNN's Kaitlan Collins, Torres downplayed any political meaning behind the hat. "It was a funny moment because it was not about politics because honestly, I don't know about politics," Torres said. "It was just to be able to see Spain again on the top, winning the World Cup."
Torres, who scored the winning goal in Spain's 1-0 victory over Argentina in the World Cup final, stated that the hat was simply a way to express joy and national pride.
"It was just to have fun with my friends, with my family and nothing about politics," he added.
Torres also touched upon his future at Barcelona, where he joined from Manchester City in 2022. Amid speculation about a potential transfer, he indicated that he is focused on his current team.
"Right now, the only thing that I know is on 12th of August I have to stay there and train with them, so let's see what happens," Torres said regarding his commitment to Barcelona. He acknowledged that in football, "everything can change in one minute, so I have to be ready for everything," and emphasized that he prioritizes decisions that bring happiness to himself and his family.
In a separate note, Torres admitted that he feels more nervous about throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at an upcoming New York Yankees game than he was before the World Cup final.