ARSENAL midfielder Lucas Torreira wants to stay at Atletico Madrid once his loan expires at the end of this season.
The Uruguayan joined the LaLiga side this summer as Thomas Partey came the other way in a £45million deadline day deal.
Lucas Torreira does not want to return to ArsenalCredit: Getty Images – Getty
And the 24-year-old has no intention of coming back to North London.
He told Ovacion: “I’ve suffered a lot of things, I had a lot of personal problems and more than anything my family also suffered.
“I know that I am a year on loan.
“But I’ve been here for four or five days and it seems like it’s a lot, because I’ve been treated very well.
“It is a new opportunity in my life, in which I have fought a lot, because Atlético has always been one of my dreams, one of my goals as a team.
“And being able to achieve it at the age of 24 is something very important.
“It all depends on how I go during the season, which I hope is very good, and maybe in the future I can stay in the club.”
Torreira dropped down the pecking order at Arsenal with Mohamed Elneny returning to form and Dani Ceballos returning from Real Madrid for another season.
And although his move is only temporary, his latest comments and parting message to Gunners fans suggest he is gone for good.
Shortly after his departure was confirmed, Torreira posted a picture of himself in a Gunners shirt with the FA Cup alongside a collage of other Arsenal snaps and combined it with a classy message.
The Uruguay international captioned the post: “I would like to thank all the people I met at Arsenal during these two incredible years, all the outstanding staff working on and off the pitch.
“And, of course, I would like to hug all the Arsenal fans for the amazing support they have been showing me since the first day.
“The chant you sang for me will always be in my heart. It was an absolute privilege playing for Arsenal these last two seasons.
“Thanks a lot! We’ll catch up soon. Once a Gunner…always a Gunner! #LT11.”
Atletico have the option to make the transfer permanent at the end of the season.
Torreira moved to the Emirates from Sampdoria in a £26m move in July 2018.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
