Fiorentina director Daniele Prade has ruled out the prospect of Premier League duo Lucas Torreira or Dennis Praet joining the club from Arsenal or Leicester City, speaking to Tuttomercatoweb.
Then again, the Torreira ship sailed some time ago. It’s merely a speck on the horizon these days.
The tenacious Uruguay international played some of his best football in many a year on loan at the Stadio Artemio Franchi last season. But, when the push came to shove, Fiorentina decided against stumping up the £12 million required to turn his temporary transfer into a permanent one.
Some have suggested that the decision was financial. Torreira’s £65,000-a-week wages were certainly an issue.
But, according to Prade, it the eventual decision was less financial decision and more of ‘technical’.
“The choice became completely technical,” the director says, insisting that both Sofyan Amrabat and newcomer Rolando Mandragora can offer more than Torreira in the centre of the park.
“We chose Amrabat instead of Torreira. And we are convinced that some of the things (Mandragora) has, Torreira did not have.”
Lucas Torreira stuck at Arsenal after Fiorentina snub
Mandragora’s arrival from Juventus – for a rumoured £7 million – also brings an end to speculation linking Leicester misfit Praet with a move to Florence. Prade insists that Barcelona benchwarmer Riqui Puig is not on Fiorentina’s radar either.
“Praet and Puig do not interest us,” he says. “We have never spoke about them. Dennis I know well, and his agent has always been my friend. We spoke in April but he is not a player we would go looking for.”
Belgium international Praet wants a fresh start after spending 2021/22 on loan at Torino. He has just two years left on his Leicester contract. Napoli have been linked among others.
“Of course, we have to understand what Leicester want to do,” says Praet’s agent.
“Napoli? We have interest from some teams. We have been in contact with Napoli in the past but now, honestly, I can’t really say what will happen. Everything could speed up within a few days or weeks, because the boy wants to know where his pre-season preparation will start.”
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