Unable to convince Mikel Arteta that he deserved to be part of his plans at the Emirates this season, Lucas Torreira was sent on loan to Fiorentina for the season by Arsenal.
He has since become an integral part of the Serie A side since joining, and there is an expectation that the Italians will pay the pre-agreed €15m to secure his services permanently in the summer.
However, the story could have been a bit different if Maurizio Sarri, whom the Gunners know well from his time as Chelsea manager, had got his way.
According to Il Messaggero, relayed by Citta Celeste, the Uruguay international was a ‘concrete goal’ for the 63-year-old in the summer when he was still at Arsenal.
It’s then stated that ‘for one reason or another’, the Gunners’ defensive midfielder ended up at Fiorentina instead, where, as stated above, he ‘practically immediately became an essential element in Vincenzo Italiano’s chessboard’.
Since returning to Italy, the Arsenal loanee has scored two goals and assisted another in 24 appearances in all competitions.
