When Arsenal signed Lucas Torreira from Sampdoria in 2018, he was an instant hit at Unai Emery’s lineup, as he gave the Gunners something they had missed since the days of Alexandre Song. Despite his clear deficiency emanating from his low center of gravity, his doggedness, work rate and tenacity endeared Torreira to the Arsenal faithful. In his first season at Arsenal, Torreira was an ever-present in the starting lineup, playing as much as 50 games, which included 34 in the Premier League. 

The manager that brought Torreira to the club, Unai Emery, was sacked in November 2019, and Torreira’s cause wasn’t helped when he suffered that career-threatening ankle injury against Portsmouth in the FA Cup. In stark contrast to the stellar campaign he had in his maiden season with the club, his second season was challenging from a footballing standpoint, as he featured sparingly, much to his despair, which ultimately led to a move out of the club to Atletico Madrid in a season-long loan move. 

Torreira managed a handful of games with Atletico and even earned some adulation from his gaffer, Diego Simeone, but after winning the domestic title with the Madrid outfit, he returned to Arsenal and agitated for a move elsewhere, as he was no longer happy at North London. Fiorentina declared their interest in signing the Uruguayan maverick, and a loan move was secured to Florence with an option to sign him permanently in the summer for £13m. 

With 31 league appearances, three Player of the Month awards and such a good time enjoying his football with La Viola, we all expected the club to pay the obliged £13m fee expected to sign Lucas Torreira on a permanent basis. However, it has been reported that Fiorentina looked to take advantage of Torreira’s zeal to remain at the club, offering Arsenal a meager €7m bid, as well as a reduced contract to the player, much to the disgust of his agent, 

“The basic problem is that Lucas was earning a higher salary at Arsenal than he did in Florence. When we agreed on the €1.5m loan [fee] with Arsenal last summer, I had the English club agree that Fiorentina would not pay that money if Lucas played at least 25 games.

“With this option we have set the right of redemption at €15m, payable in six instalments of €2.5m by 2025.

“We had agreed on a salary with Fiorentina for the coming seasons of €2.7m net per year.

“Fiorentina, however, now want to lower both the salary and the cost of the transfer fee. We couldn’t accept this and even Arsenal didn’t accept it either. Now Lucas has a contract with the Gunners until June 30, 2023.”

Torreira has already gone to social media to bid his farewell to the club, and you could tell that he was very disappointed both clubs couldn’t reach an agreement to sign him on a permanent basis.  With his imminent return to the club this summer, Torreira’s eyes will be keenly focused on the exit door, and Sports Mole reports that Arsenal has offered him to Lazio in the club’s bid to cash in on the midfielder with only 12 months left on his contract. 

I am in the opinion that Lucas Torreira should be sold as soon as possible as a player of his ability could be able to fetch Arsenal about £13m – £15m. With the club aiming to sign Lucas Tielemans from Leicester, Torreira would go further down the pecking order behind the likes of Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka, Mo Elneny and even Sambi Lokonga, so the best option would be to secure a sale.

I really enjoyed watching him play for us in his first season at the club, but unfortunately, his Arsenal career took a wrong turn and he’s pretty much a forgotten memory. I am hopeful we can secure a deal for him, as it would be beneficial for the player and the club. 

Sayonara.

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