There’s still a small chance Lucas Torreira could yet join Fiorentina this summer, but time is certainly running out.

FLORENCE, ITALY: Lucas Sebastián Torreira Di Pascua of ACF Fiorentina in action during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Venezia FC at Stadio Artemio Franchi on April 17, 2022. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
FLORENCE, ITALY: Lucas Sebastián Torreira Di Pascua of ACF Fiorentina in action during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Venezia FC at Stadio Artemio Franchi on April 17, 2022. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Despite recent reports that Lucas Torreira won’t join Fiorentina this summer – seemingly confirmed by the player’s agent – his agent has now suggested it’s not completely over yet.

Fiorentina’s option to buy is still valid until May 31st, and Pablo Bentancur says Torreira won’t start thinking about other clubs until that option is off the table.

“The margins for Lucas to stay in Florence are very small even if it’s not over yet,” Bentancur said (via Gazzetta.it).

“The issue between him and the Viola is a contractual problem, it doesn’t take much to clarify with Fiorentina and my priority is to find an agreement with the Viola club.

“For now, he’s not thinking about other teams because he was very happy in Florence and is loved by fans. The problem is only contractual, commissions have nothing to do with it.”

FLORENCE, ITALY: Lucas Sebastián Torreira Di Pascua of ACF Fiorentina in action during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Artemio Franchi on April 27, 2022. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
FLORENCE, ITALY: Lucas Sebastián Torreira Di Pascua of ACF Fiorentina in action during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Artemio Franchi on April 27, 2022. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Gianluca Di Marzio had reported that Fiorentina wouldn’t activate their €15m option to sign the midfielder.

Torreira’s agent spoke to Fiorentina News at the time to explain that the issue was that the Serie A side came to an agreement with Arsenal and with Torreira and then tried to renegotiate with both of them.

“The basic problem is that Lucas (Torreira) earned a higher salary at Arsenal than he took in Florence,” Bentancur said.

“When we agreed on the €1.5 million loan with Arsenal last summer, I got from the English club that Fiorentina would not pay that money if Lucas played at least 25 games (he reached 31 in the league).

“With this, we set the option-to-buy at €15 million, payable in 6 installments of €2.5m by 2025.

“We had agreed on a (player) contract with Fiorentina for the coming seasons of €2.7 million net a year. Fiorentina, however, now wanted to lower both [Torreira’s] salary and the cost of the transfer.

“We couldn’t accept, and Arsenal didn’t accept either. Now Lucas has a contract with the Gunners until June 30, 2023.”

Torreira made 35 appearances and won three Fiorentina Player of the Month awards in the last four months.

On the final day of the Serie A season, Torreira won a late penalty to help Fiorentina make it 2-0 against Juventus.

The win secured European football for Fiorentina for the first time in six years, and they’ll play in the Europa Conference League next season.

When you factor in the huge sale of Dusan Vlahovic and the prospect of European football, Fiorentina really have no justification to haggle over a €15m signing on €2.7m wages.