Lucas Torreira says there’s no chance he remains at Arsenal this summer, and he’s available to buy for around €15m.
Since his permanent transfer to Fiorentina fell through earlier in the summer, Lucas Torreira has been on the hunt for a new club, but he’s yet to find one.
Speaking to El Telegrafo, Torreira responded to a question about his chances of staying with Arsenal for the coming campaign.
“Chances? None,” Torreira insisted. “From the beginning, they told me that I didn’t have a place, so I don’t want to stay either because I suffered a lot, it cost me a lot to adapt and my idea is to go to Italy or Spain.”
Various reports have suggested that Torreira’s summer preference was to return to Fiorentina, and the player has confirmed as much, but his representatives are now searching for an alternative.
“We are having conversations with many teams, but my representative is in charge of that, today I am enjoying my vacation.
“It was a long year with a lot of competition, and it was exhausting; I want to relax with my family. What I wanted was to stay at Fiorentina, but it didn’t happen for various reasons, so we’ll look for a new direction.”
There are always calls for Torreira to return to South America with Boca Juniors, but the Arsenal midfielder says his price tag makes that a tricky prospect.
“Boca is very difficult,” Torreira said. “It was difficult when my mom passed and I really wanted to go there, then I had a very good season and I have one year left on my contract with Arsenal.
“Any team that wants me has to buy out my contract, which today is worth approximately €15 million, so that’s why I see it as difficult (for Boca), although I never lose hope; I feel a lot of love for that club and at some point, I would like to play there.”
Torreira has reportedly been offered to Lazio, following links between the player and Maurizio Sarri last summer.
Meanwhile, RomaForever.it report that the player’s camp has also made contact with AS Roma over a potential move.
Fiorentina had a €15m option in Torreira’s contract to make his loan move permanent, but Torreira’s agent confirmed last month that Fiorentina then tried to negotiate the price down.
As a result, the move fell through, and the Uruguay international is set to go elsewhere.