Although people acting in a “bad way” have scuppered his chances of sealing a permanent move to Fiorentina, there remains little prospect of Lucas Torreira being reintegrated into Mikel Arteta’s pre-season plans and he will likely end his regrettable Arsenal adventure this summer.
But while dreams of a switch to the Artemio Franchi now lie in ruin, the 26-year-old nonetheless enjoyed a hugely successful loan spell there, earning both regular minutes and the affection of the Viola’s passionate Ultras. His committed, hard-working style should pique the interest of many clubs across the continent.
5 possible destinations for Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira ahead of a potential move this summer
Consecutive loan spells in the Iberian Peninsula and Tuscany indicate Torreira’s preference for life on warmer shores, so here are five potential destinations for his next long-term home.
1. Lazio
Lazio need a successor to Luca Leiva. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)
Said to be a leading candidate for his signature, Lazio can offer Torreira an alternative route back to Serie A pastures and boost their aspirations of ending a two-year Champions League hiatus.
Coached by former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri, Le Aquile like to set up in a possession-based 4-3-3 system and put considerable onus on the defensive midfielder to instigate attacking patterns from deeper zones – an instruction reliably executed by Jorginho under Sarri in both Naples and west London.
Such playmaking responsibility may not be quite as suitable for Torreira and his gritty inclinations, but he is accustomed to operating as the link between attack and defence and has the added benefit of spatial awareness to avoid surrendering the ball in vulnerable positions.
The Uruguayan’s disciplined and energetic manner would also help to mitigate Lazio’s exposure in transitional play. This is an issue that has plagued many iterations of ‘Sarriball’ sides as the Italian often encourages his troops to press high up the pitch and secure turnovers, but any chink in the armour leaves the backline in serious danger. Perhaps a persistent, terrier-like presence would address the counterthreat.
It may not be a perfect fit, but it is a financially viable punt worth taking.
Suitability Rating: 7/10
Continued on the next slide…
“bad way”</a> have scuppered his chances of sealing a permanent move to Fiorentina, there remains little prospect of Lucas Torreira being reintegrated into Mikel Arteta’s pre-season plans and he will likely end his regrettable Arsenal adventure this summer.</p>
<p>But while dreams of a switch to the Artemio Franchi now lie in ruin, the 26-year-old nonetheless enjoyed a hugely successful loan spell there, earning both regular minutes and the affection of the Viola’s passionate Ultras. His committed, hard-working style should pique the interest of many clubs across the continent.</p>
<h2><strong>5 possible destinations for Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira ahead of a potential move this summer</strong></h2>
<p>Consecutive loan spells in the Iberian Peninsula and Tuscany indicate Torreira’s preference for life on warmer shores, so here are five potential destinations for his next long-term home.</p>
<h2><strong>1. Lazio</strong></h2>
<div id="attachment_126986" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-126986" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/16/5-potential-suitors-for-wantaway-arsenal-midfielder-lucas-torreira/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1145,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1393788210.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1145" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1393788210.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1393788210-768x550.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Lazio need a successor to Luca Leiva. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<p>Said to be a leading candidate for his signature, Lazio can offer Torreira an alternative route back to Serie A pastures and boost their aspirations of ending a two-year Champions League hiatus.</p>
<p>Coached by former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri, Le Aquile like to set up in a possession-based 4-3-3 system and put considerable onus on the defensive midfielder to instigate attacking patterns from deeper zones – an instruction reliably executed by Jorginho under Sarri in both Naples and west London.</p>
<p>Such playmaking responsibility may not be quite as suitable for Torreira and his gritty inclinations, but he is accustomed to operating as the link between attack and defence and has the added benefit of spatial awareness to avoid surrendering the ball in vulnerable positions.</p>
<p>The Uruguayan’s disciplined and energetic manner would also help to mitigate Lazio’s exposure in transitional play. This is an issue that has plagued many iterations of ‘Sarriball’ sides as the Italian often encourages his troops to press high up the pitch and secure turnovers, but any chink in the armour leaves the backline in serious danger. Perhaps a persistent, terrier-like presence would address the counterthreat.</p>
<p>It may not be a perfect fit, but it is a financially viable punt worth taking.</p>
<p><strong>Suitability Rating: 7/10</strong></p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/16/5-potential-suitors-for-wantaway-arsenal-midfielder-lucas-torreira/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Potential suitor #2 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2><strong>2. Roma</strong></h2>
<div id="attachment_126985" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-126985" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/16/5-potential-suitors-for-wantaway-arsenal-midfielder-lucas-torreira/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2198,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1399412328.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2198" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1399412328.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1399412328-768x528.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Jose Mourinho has already bolstered his Roma midfield this summer with the signing of Nemanja Matic. (Photo by Silvia Lore/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<p>And if maintaining the Blues’ connection is of interest, Torreira could instead be tempted to enrol at cross-city rivals AS Roma and join the ranks of a certain Jose Mourinho.</p>
<p>The Europa Conference League champions offer a more conservative brand of football to Lazio, but one that bears similarities to the methods employed by the Uruguay national team, with Mourinho being a staunch advocate of zonal man-orientations.</p>
<p>A relatively simple concept to grasp, this ideology involves its subjects marking specific zones across the pitch which becomes a man-to-man engagement when an opponent enters the zone.</p>
<p>This more pragmatic approach generally doesn’t enthral supporters, but it can be extremely effective. Torreira specialises in screening the back four and is adept at both blocking passing lanes and making crucial interceptions, while Mourinho’s insistence on compacting the middle would mitigate his limited physical power.</p>
<p>The tedious Granit Xhaka negotiations last year suggest Arsenal will encounter further financial problems with Roma this summer, but a reasonable price of £15m could be too good for the Giallorossi to ignore.</p>
<p><strong>Suitability Rating: 8/10</strong></p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/16/5-potential-suitors-for-wantaway-arsenal-midfielder-lucas-torreira/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Potential suitor #3 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2><strong>3. Sampdoria</strong></h2>
<div id="attachment_126982" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-126982" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/16/5-potential-suitors-for-wantaway-arsenal-midfielder-lucas-torreira/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1037,w_1482/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F913514794.jpeg" alt="" width="1482" height="1037" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/913514794.jpeg 1482w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/913514794-768x537.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1482px) 100vw, 1482px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Torreira joined Arsenal from Sampdoria in 2018. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<p>Moving away from the Eternal City and one final Mediterranean option could see Torreira make an emotional return to former club Sampdoria.</p>
<p>Not much has changed at the Luigi Ferraris since the Uruguayan’s departure four years ago. Sampdoria are still floundering in relative obscurity and Marco Giampaolo is once again the manager following his re-appointment in January. This decision perhaps bodes well for Torreira as he played some of his best football under Giampaolo’s watch and last season demonstrated his ability to replicate such performances in Serie A.</p>
<p>Incorporating elements that remain popular with the aforementioned managers, Giampaolo encourages quick vertical play in order to break opposition lines.</p>
<p>Without the ball, blocking passing lanes and making interceptions are critical to the success of his philosophy, while he also puts extra emphasis on zonal marking to shift opponents into central areas and force turnovers through an aggressive, coordinated press.</p>
<p>For an unsettled player with a taste for the Italian lifestyle, Sampdoria looks like a fantastic choice for Torreira, and home comforts might be just what he needs to reboot after a challenging English experience.</p>
<p><strong>Suitability Rating: 9/10</strong></p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/16/5-potential-suitors-for-wantaway-arsenal-midfielder-lucas-torreira/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Potential suitor #4 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2><strong>4. Villarreal</strong></h2>
<div id="attachment_120532" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-120532" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/16/5-potential-suitors-for-wantaway-arsenal-midfielder-lucas-torreira/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1170854745.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Lucas" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1170854745.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1170854745-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">It was Villarreal manager Unai Emery who brought Torreira to Arsenal. (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<p>Although a swift return to Italy appears to be the most probable outcome, Torreira may be enticed to make a fresh start elsewhere and perhaps the man who brought him to England can help him rediscover his initial Arsenal form.</p>
<p>The midfield star arrived in north London as the fourth signing of the Unai Emery era and became an instant fan favourite with a series of Man of the Match displays in his first few months at the club. However, numerous tactical experiments and increased collective trepidation caused both Torreira and his teammates to lose their way and, unfortunately, his Arsenal career never recovered.</p>
<p>Plenty of time has since passed and today he would be a great addition to Emery’s Spanish project. Villarreal will be keen on signing fresh legs for their ageing engine room this window as former north London residents Etienne Capoue and Francis Coquelin approach the twilight stages of their sporting journeys. Torreira can bring much-needed tenacity to help build on their extraordinary recent European run.</p>
<p>He would also be a strong tactical fit as, just like he did when signed in 2018, Torreira would thrive at the base of Emery’s rigid defensive structure where he can find space to receive and play passes, in addition to protecting those behind and enabling flanking midfielders to venture forward.</p>
<p>The first chapter did not go to plan, but maybe there is a fairy-tale ending to this relationship.</p>
<p><strong>Suitability Rating: 8/10</strong></p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/16/5-potential-suitors-for-wantaway-arsenal-midfielder-lucas-torreira/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Potential suitor #5 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2><strong>5. Valencia</strong></h2>
<div id="attachment_126984" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-126984" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/16/5-potential-suitors-for-wantaway-arsenal-midfielder-lucas-torreira/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1065,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1240022813.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1065" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1240022813.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1240022813-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Valencia are another La Liga option. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<p>And if a frosty Arsenal history between Emery and Torreira dampens hopes of a reunion, an offer from Yellow Submarine rivals Valencia could be on the cards.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
<div id="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-position="slideshow_inline" data-slot="inline_126938" style="width:300px;margin: 0 auto;">
<script>
googletag.cmd.push(function () {
googletag.defineSlot("/175840252/fansided.com/PainintheArsenal/mpu",[300, 250], "minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet")
.addService(googletag.pubads());
googletag.enableServices();
googletag.display("minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet");
});
</script>
</div>
</div> </div> </div>
<p>Once a real force on the La Liga scene, Valencia have fallen way off the pace in recent years and they ended last season with a disappointing but improved ninth-place finish. Their latest bid for better fortunes came in the form of Gennaro Gattuso’s appointment last week – the tenth permanent manager since Peter Lim took over the club in 2014 – but they are still mired in financial uncertainty and a rise in protests against Lim’s stewardship indicate matters will remain bleak for the foreseeable future.</p>
<p>On the surface, this seems like a place to avoid, but Gattuso’s patient and evolving approach may yet appeal to a rejuvenated Torreira. Just like many of the other teams mentioned, the defensive midfielder typically drops into the backline and is tasked with orchestrating build-up phases, forming triangles with the centre-backs to facilitate ball progression and allowing teammates to move quickly up the field.</p>
<p>This might not only be beyond the pint-sized battler’s comfort zone, but there could also be too much work for him to do at the back as Gattuso’s previous sides have struggled to execute a proactive style without leaving themselves vulnerable to the counter-attack. However, Gattuso has slowly adapted his practices by encouraging the collective to drop deep when out of possession and a slight shift towards more pragmatic values could be of great benefit to Torreira as he goes about his defensive duties.</p>
<p>These are turbulent times at the Mestalla and while Torreira is capable of making it work, he would be best advised against completing a move.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="9BlPmyIwcC"><p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/16/5-potential-suitors-for-wantaway-arsenal-midfielder-lucas-torreira/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/16/arsenal-move-quickly-fabio-vieira-agreement-porto/">Arsenal Transfers: Gunners move rapidly to secure agreement for Porto’s Fabio Vieira</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/16/5-potential-suitors-for-wantaway-arsenal-midfielder-lucas-torreira/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/16/arsenal-move-quickly-fabio-vieira-agreement-porto/embed/#?secret=9BlPmyIwcC" data-secret="9BlPmyIwcC" width="500" height="282" title="“Arsenal Transfers: Gunners move rapidly to secure agreement for Porto’s Fabio Vieira” — Pain in the Arsenal" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div>
<p><strong>Suitability Rating: 4/10 </strong></p><!—pageview_candidate—></p>">
