Fiorentina have missed their chance to activate their purchase clause for Lucas Torreira, but they could still look to sign him.

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)

The Evening Standard report that Fiorentina’s clause to purchase Lucas Torreira on a permanent deal from Arsenal expired on May 31st, meaning they’ve now missed their opportunity to take it up.

Yet Fiorentina are reportedly still open to striking a deal with Arsenal, and they’re ready for further talks. They just evidently weren’t willing to pay the fee they agreed.

Napoli could reportedly join the chase for Torreira, who does favour a move to Italy.

“My intention is to stay at Fiorentina,” Torreira admitted. “But it will be necessary for the club to find an agreement with Arsenal. I’m perfectly fine in Florence. I am fine in Italy.”

Fiorentina’s initial decision not to activate Torreira’s purchase clause went down badly with the supporters, who had voted Torreira their Player of the Month three times in the first four months of 2022.

Lashing out against Fiorentina CEO Joe Barone, a group of fans displayed a banner at their home ground with the words “Torreira to Fiorentina, Barone to Arsenal” written in Italian.

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)

After news broke of Fiorentina’s stance, Torreira’s agent Pablo Bentancur spoke to Fiorentina News to explain that the issue was that the Serie A side came to an agreement with Arsenal and 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 for Fiorentina and helped them to a final-day win over Juventus to secure European football for the first time in six years.