Fiorentina fans have sent a clear message both to their board and current Arsenal loanee Lucas Torreira ahead of his upcoming summer departure.
As it stands, Torreira will be returning to north London at the end of his loan spell with La Viola, where he has become a fan favourite and won three of the five possible player of the month awards this calender year.
The Uruguayan’s loan deal had an option to buy the player set at 15m euros, which it was expected that the Italian club would take up. However, that has since changed, as Fiorentina tried to secure a discount both on salary and fee, neither of which washed with the other party.
Lucas Torreira will return to Arsenal as €15m option won’t be triggered, agent Bentancur confirms: “It was almost agreed on salary too – then Fiorentina asked for a discount, we can’t accept”. 🇺🇾 #AFC
“Arsenal have also turned down their proposal”, he told @Fiorentinanews. pic.twitter.com/TzFsvSyI2h
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 22, 2022
Now, the Fiorentina fans have unfurled a banner near the Florence side’s stadium demanding that he stay, and that Joe Barone, the club’s CEO, leave instead.
‘Torreira Alla Fiorentina, Barone All Arsenal’, the banner read.
Fiorentina fans make a stand RE Lucas Torreira (they want him to stay) by placing a banner near the stadium tonight.
“Torreira Alla Fiorentina, Barone All Arsenal” pic.twitter.com/fipbDEMTGX
— Arsenal (@TheArsenalGuns) May 25, 2022
While the La Viola faithful have made their feelings on the matter clear, whether they are acted upon are another matter.
What next for Torreira?
It seems unlikely that Lucas Torreira will still be an Arsenal player come the end of the summer. The midfielder was not thought to be in Mikel Arteta’s plans 12 months ago, when sent on loan to Florence, and it is hard to see how that has changed in the year since.
Meanwhile, Torreira himself has never settled in England, and would be keen on a move back to Italy or to South America. Whether such an opportunity arises remains to be seen.
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