Arsenal’s Lucas Torreira could now miss out on a move to Fiorentina and the ‘inexplicable’ situation surrounding the Premier League misfit is causing plenty of confusion over in Italy, as reported by Tuttomercatoweb.
Just last week, La Viola boss Vincenzo Italiano confirmed his desire to secure the Uruguayan’s signature as soon as possible, hailing Torreira’s ‘extraordinary quality’.
That was before talks between the player and the club broke down in rather dramatic circumstances, however.
According to TMW, Fiorentina didn’t exactly show themselves in the best light when they asked for a discount on a deal that had already been agreed between the Serie A outfit, Torreira and parent club Arsenal.
Thus creating a rift that has been described by at least one publication as ‘incurable’.
“Torreira is an inexplicable story,” says Italian reporter Mario Tenerani, clearly baffled as this long-running transfer saga takes an unexpected twist.
“Maybe Fiorentina has someone better in their sights, but I’m not aware of it. Or Fiorentina has decided to go for cheaper players to keep costs down.”
What next for Arsenal’s Lucas Torreira amid Fiorentina confusion?
Fiorentina’s stance has not exactly come out of the blue.
Arsenal agreed to sell Torreira for £13 million long ago but that did not stop Fiorentina from requesting a discount upon the turn of the year.
What’s more, there is understood to be another obstacle in the shape of Torreira’s £65,000-a-week wages.
“I hope he stays and that Fiorentina defend their choice (to bring him in on loan),” Tenerani adds.
“Italiano certainly will want certainties. It seems to me a situation that had to be resolved months ago. But every time it is like this. I do not understand why (Torreira) would want to leave.”
Torreira’s representative, Pablo Bentancur, spoke to Fiorentina News last week, confirming that there is indeed a problem regarding the wages his client will earn at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
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“The basic problem is that Lucas at Arsenal earns a higher salary than he gets in Florence,” says Bentancur, who recently shone a light on the Gunners’ desire to bring in Dusan Vlahovic before he sealed a big-money move to Juventus.
“We had agreed a deal with Fiorentina for the coming season of 2.7 million euros net a year (£45,000-a-week after tax).
“Fiorentina , however, now want to lower both the salary and the cost of the deal. We couldn’t accept.”
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