Lucas Torreira: I want to leave Arsenal for Boca now

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 19 May 2021 12:39 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira, currently on loan at Atletico Madrid, has reiterated his desire to leave the Gunners for Boca Juniors as soon as possible.

The Uruguayan joined Arsenal from Sampdoria in the summer of 2018 for a fee believed to be around £26 million, as then-head coach Unai Emery attempted to bolster his midfield options.

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Though Torreira would impress on occasion, he was unable to find the consistency within the team and subsequently found himself in and out of the starting line-up, particularly after Mikel Arteta took over as boss.

After being deemed surplus to requirements at the Emirates, he was allowed to join Atletico Madrid on loan for the rest of the season as part of the Thomas Partey deal, with the Ghanaian heading in the other direction to North London.

Torreira has struggled to break into Diego Simeone’s first team also, though, and has made just five starts in all competitions for Los Colchoneros in 2020/21.

Torreira to sign for Boca?

Unfortunately for the 25-year-old, his mother passed away last month which catalysed a desire for him to return to South America to be closer to his family.

Although Boca would obviously be in Argentina, it would still allow Torreira to be much closer to his family than if he remained in Europe.

Torreira previously told ESPN:

“I always said it and I am going to say that I am dying to play in Boca, if it is not now in June it will be later. I always wanted and wanted to be able to play.

“The night my mother died, they called me from the hospital at dawn, and one of the first ones I wrote to was my representative. I told him I didn’t want to play in Europe anymore and I told him I wanted to come to Boca; this does not come from now, it has been a while since I have been playing as much as I want in Europe.

“My dad was excited because they talked this Wednesday about having a chance to go to Boca and through tears he told me that it was time to come. Seeing my father destroyed by the loss of my mother breaks my soul.”

He has now stated his desire again to YouTube channel  Perfil Bulos, saying:

“I want to go to Boca Juniors now. I am 25 years old and I know it’s a club that plays for great targets.

“I’d like to make the fans happy but I know it’s not easy. Boca should reach an agreement with Arsenal for a one-year loan.”

Due to the amount of money spent on Torreira’s initial transfer, it is unclear whether Arsenal would allow the Uruguayan to leave on another loan deal or whether they would try and recoup a fee for his services.