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Arsenal star’s agent confirms player wants to leave and will hold talks with Mikel Arteta
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta faces losing a star midfielder this summer after his agent confirmed his desire to return to Italy.
Arsenal: Torreira 'really keen' to play again claims Arteta
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta could lose Lucas Torreira in the summer transfer window after the player's agent insisted he believes the defensive midfielder will be on the "market" in the coming months. The 24-year-old had a great debut season for the Gunners who paid Sampdoria £26million for his signature, following an impressive campaign with Uruguay at the 2018 World Cup.
In the 2018/19 campaign, he made 34 appearances in the league, of which he started 24, and the other four games he missed due to suspension and injury.
However, Torreira has had an unsettling second season with the Gunners.
He fell out of favour with then-boss Unai Emery and found himself being used as a substitute more often than starting games.
Emery also began using the player in a more advanced role, a decision which frustrated Torreira, as he was not happy being played out of his natural position.
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Arteta was then appointed the club's new manager in December, and while he has used Torreira as a defensive midfielder, the Uruguayan has still only started 15 league games this campaign.
Torreira suffered an ankle injury at the beginning of March and in a recent interview his agent, Pablo Bentancur, has confirmed the player is not only fully recovered but would also "love" to return to Italy when the transfer window opens.
“Lucas had been in a bit of a bad mood over some technical differences, then he recovered," Bentancur told TuttoMercatoWeb.
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"And then this injury happened, fortunately, less serious than expected.
"Today he is completely recovered, I believe he will be a market man."
Torreira has been linked with a return to Italy, with AC Milan keen on signing the midfielder who already has experience of playing in Serie A.
However, the player's agent insisted he will now look to hold talks with Arsenal to help find Torreira a new club in the summer.
“I will have to talk to Arsenal," Bentancur added.
"The player would love to return to Italy, but it must be acknowledged that Arsenal treated him very well and he’s behaved great."
Torreira's contract expires in 2023 and his departure could help fund a move for Atletico Madrid star Thomas Partey.
The 26-year-old defensive midfielder is a summer transfer target for Arteta and has a £43.5million (€50m) release clause in his contract.