The midfielder has featured in all three of Arsenal’s Premier League games so far
Arsenal completed the signing of midfielder Lucas Torreira from Sampdoria on a 5 year deal for a reported fee of £22 million. He was given the number 11 shirt and joined up with the squad on 30th July after post World Cup holidays.
Unai Emery targeted a defensive midfielder ahead of the next season. The lack of a natural screening presence behind Granit Xhaka or Aaron Ramsey has often seemed to unbalance the team in recent seasons.
Gunners prioritized the signing Uruguay International and were in talks with the Italian club for him since before the World Cup in Russia started.
They in fact agreed the fee for him with the Serie A club prior the World Cup, and the deal would have been completed sooner had it not been for the midfielder’s determination to focus solely on the tournament.
The 22 year old impressed for Uruguay during the World Cup and featured in all of their 5 matches. But his campaign came to an end as they were defeated 2-0 by France in the quarter-finals.
The Uruguayan has gone on to feature in all three of the club’s Premier League games so far this season but yet to start any match as he is still adapting to the Premier League.
Torreira’s representative Pablo Bentancur has revealed his client could have joined Napoli this summer and fate could have been different if the club appointed their new manager earlier.
“It’s a pity, I’m sorry Ancelotti wasn’t there at the start of the negotiation,” He explained to Radio Crc as quoted by Goal.
“He’d have been a great help for Torreira, he has tremendous international experience.
“But then Lucas called me and he confirmed to me that negotiations with Arsenal were too advanced for any second thoughts.
“If Arsenal had collapsed then Napoli would have been perfect.”
