Lucas Torreira is preparing for the Copa America with Uruguay and has been speaking to the press about his first year with Arsenal.
Over recent days Lucas Torreira’s future has become the subject of unwanted speculation with reports claiming that AC Milan (and Ivan Gazidis) want the midfielder at the San Siro.
Thankfully, they didn’t hold out much hope of being able to lure him away and his recent comments show that he’s planning on staying with Arsenal for ‘several years’ at least.
“There were many more matches,” he told the Uruguayan edition of El Pais about life in the Premier League v Serie A.
“I had to get used to playing every three days, which is very hard. Unfortunately, it is not given us to classify directly to the Champions League and got through to the final of the Europa League. Losing that final was very hard not only for us but for the club. But for me, the balance was positive and I am satisfied and happy with what I did in the year.
“I played nearly 50 games, almost double what I played last year. As you go on grabbing experience and you have different companions at your side, you’re learning a lot. I’ve learned a lot, especially how to manage the parties and their different situations.”
He was then asked about the differences between his life in Italy and England and it was in those comments that he gave a clear indication that he intends to stay at Arsenal, at least for the foreseeable future meaning Ivan Gazidis can f**k off, even if it doesn’t seem like it initially.
“I don’t know if there are many things that I enjoy,” Torreira laughed when asked about what he enjoys most in England. “I think it was better in Italy. England is a totally different world, a very large country. The language [barrier] has cost me, able to relate with my peers and with the people. It is very difficult when you can’t have dialogues. And so is the climate. You go out in the morning and it is cloudy, you arrive late to your home and it is cloudy. It is strange a little bit, the sun, the more of us that we are here and we are accustomed to having always or almost always the sun. But as the years pass, I’m going to be adapting.”
Lucas signed a five-year deal with Arsenal when he arrived last summer from Sampdoria and it’s good to hear that he is planning on staying in the country for several years rather than having his head turned shortly after arriving, even if he is finding the English weather a bit of a downer.
It’s also important to note that El Pais specifically said he was laughing as he talked about preferring Italy. Keep that in mind when the tabloids get a hold of these quotes.
Uruguay get their Copa America underway against Ecuador on Sunday with an 11pm kick-off time for UK viewers.