Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira has pointed the finger at “those acting in a bad way” after his permanent transfer to Fiorentina collapsed.
Torreira has revealed his anger at Fiorentina’s decision not to keep him in Florence.
The Serie A outfit had agreed a £13m transfer fee with Arsenal when they took the 26-year-old on loan last summer. It was a fee that was payable over three seasons, but La Viola reneged on that agreement.
Instead Fiorentina.it reported that the Italian side ‘annoyed’ Arsenal with a derisory new offer.
La Viola offered just £6m for Torreira, which left Arsenal refusing to respond to the offer.
And Torreira was just as upset after posting messages on Twitter and Instagram.
The Uruguay international wrote: “I want you to know that I did my best to continue being part of this club, but unfortunately there were those who, acting in a bad way, according to my understanding, managed to prevent this from happening and that is why I have to leave.
“Thanks to your trust I was able to find the continuity and level I wanted. I owe that to my teammates and all the fans who gave us energy game by game. I wish you the best for the future. They will have one more fan cheering from wherever I have to be.”
Grazie @acffiorentina 💜🥹 pic.twitter.com/WFpGxO0h8r
— Lucas Torreira #LT14 (@LTorreira34) June 14, 2022
The player’s agent Pablo Betancur also claimed that Fiorentina were unwilling to pay the wages they had previously agreed with Torreira.
Torreira hunting for new club
It has left any deal dead in the water and Torreira will now return to London.
He had enjoyed a fruitful season in Serie A, scoring five goals and grabbing two assists in 31 games for the club.
They finished sixth and claimed a place in next season’s Europa Conference League. And Torreira, who has one year remaining on his Arsenal contract, was keen to stay with Fiorentina.
“My idea is to stay at Fiorentina, but if [a move] doesn’t happen, I’ll search for a club where I can play regularly,” he told Sky Italy.
Now though he will be looking for a new club and Arsenal will not want to lose him for free in 2023.
Mikel Arteta prefers Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka, Mohamed Elneny and Albert Sambi Lokonga ahead of Torreira in his midfield.
Torreira was a £26m signing from Sampdoria in July 2018 by former Gunners boss Unai Emery.
