Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira has called on the North London club to reach a one-year loan agreement with Boca Juniors.
In an interview with ESPN Argentina’s Federico Bulos, Torreira reiterated his desire to return to South America to be close to his family.
Lucas Torreira Talks Mental Health and Reiterates Desire to Join Boca Juniors
What Was Said
During a wide-ranging 45-minute conversation, the 25-year-old told Bulos about struggling with his mental health and the death of his mother, with whom he was very close.
“I have thought about it a lot. I already have a clear idea about what I want to do next,” Torreira told Bulos. “I want to be close to my family, especially my father who is suffering a lot now with the death of my mother.
“For the past two seasons here in Europe, I am not doing very well,” he added. “I have had a lot of problems, which people have not seen because they only see me smiling at training and during matches, so people think everything is ok, but it is not.”
Lucas Torreira Wants to Leave Europe At the End of the Season
Torreira is currently on loan at Atlético Madrid, where he is in the heat of the title race. While the Uruguayan international has his heart set on a move to the club he supported growing up, he confirmed that helping Atléti win the league was his top priority for now.
“Our goal is winning La Liga and we are doing everything we can to achieve that,” Torreira said.
However, once the campaign is over, Torreira urged Arsenal to come to a loan agreement with Boca Juniors.
“It will not be easy [to leave Europe],” he admitted. “I am still an Arsenal player and they will have to make a deal for a one-year loan because a transfer is something that would be very difficult for Boca right now. So we will have to wait and see. If it is not right now, it will happen in the future.
“I would like to do it now,” he added. “I am 25-years-old and Boca is a club that does great things and will play for championships and the Copa Libertadores. I could be happy there with the fans.”
ESPN UK’s James Olley reports that Arsenal are sympathetic to Torreira and willing to let him go for £15 million. Transfermarkt currently values the midfielder at £19 million.
Arsenal bought Torreira from Italian outfit Sampdoria in 2018 for £26 million. The club reportedly have accepted that they will take a loss on the player, but would like to recoup as much money as possible.
Boca Are In Need of a Player With Torreira’s Attributes
Meanwhile, Boca Juniors have made their desire to sign Torreira known as well. The club have been leaking goals recently – conceding 19 in their past 16 matches – and are about to embark on their Copa Libertadores campaign.
While the six-time champions of the competition are unlikely to struggle against Ecuadorian champions SC Barcelona or Bolivian runners-up The Strongest in the group stage, there is some concern about the attacking prowess of Santos.
New manager Miguel Ángel Russo has switched the formation from a back four to a back three, but players have struggled to adapt. Atlético Madrid frequently play with a back three and Torreira is used to the formation.
Furthermore, Torriera has excelled as a deep-lying pivot in the middle of the park and has a strong reputation for his discipline and work rate, all of which Boca are sorely missing at the moment.
The club would like to sign Torreira along with fellow Uruguayan, Edinson Cavani, to bolster their attack and midfield ahead of the knock out stage of the competition, which will take place after the summer transfer window.
Growing up, Torreira watched and cheered as Boca won South America’s premier tournament in 2000, 2003 and 2007. He is now eager to get the chance to lift the trophy himself with Los Xeneizes.
“It would be a dream,” he told Bulos while sporting an ear-to-ear smile.
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