'Excellent': £26m star's father suggests he's leaving Arsenal in 2022

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Arsenal’s forgotten man Lucas Torreira could join outfit Fiorentina on a permanent basis with the Premier League ace’s father telling Radio Bruno that the relationship between him and the Serie A side is ‘excellent’.

Has Lucas Torreira already played his final game in Arsenal colours.

All the signs certainly seem to point to an emphatic ‘yes’.

The £26 million Uruguayan international has not started a Premier League game under Mikel Arteta since Trezeguet scored the winning goal in a dramatic 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa in July 2020.

And after a difficult spell at Atletico Madrid last season, Torreira has been a man reborn in the iconic purple shirt of Fiorentina.

He’s playing regularly again in the league where he made his name as a tenacious little terrier at Sampdoria.

Has Lucas Torreira played his last game for Arsenal?

Fiorentina have already reached an agreement with Arsenal to sign the 25-year-old on a permanent basis for around £13 million.

There is a belief, however, that the two clubs could rubber stamp a deal that will see Torreira move to Florence for even less than that.

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“We are not surprised by his form at Fiorentina because he is a boy who likes to play,” says Torreira’s father Riccardo, via Fiorentina IT.

“Although in some clubs he did not have minutes, this depends on the manager. Not all managers are the same.

“In the past, others have given him the opportunity to prove that he is an excellent player. That’s why he plays in Italy right now.

“He is very happy. He lives in a beautiful house, lives in the city.

“About buying Lucas; I want him to be happy in everything he does. If Fiorentina wants to buy him, it will be up to Lucas to decide.

“We support him in every decision he makes. It will always depend on the affection of the people, on his performances, on the opportunities that will be granted to him.

“I repeat: it depends on the relationship between Fiorentina and Lucas, which at the moment is excellent.”

Torreira is not the only player linked with a January move away from Arsenal.

Nasser Elneny’s agent has opened the door regarding a potential switch to Turkey while Sead Kolasinac is also facing an uncertain future.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Calum Chambers are both targets for Premier League rivals Everton.