Journalist Charles Watts has slammed decision to take Lucas Torreira on tour with Arsenal amid major doubts over his future.
For some time now it has looked as though the midfielder will be leaving the Gunners this summer, but after his touted move to Fiorentina fell through he hasn’t been able to leave yet.
And so, when Arsenal travelled to America recently for their pre-season tour the 26-year-old was named in the squad while youngster Charlie Patino – who plays in the same position – was left at home.
While speaking about this on his YouTube channel, Watts called the situation ‘staggeringly odd’ as he explained that Torreira then left the tour halfway through and then didn’t return to the club for training.
He explained: “I still will never get the decision to take Torreira on that tour and not take Charlie Patino. It’s just like staggeringly odd, in my mind.
“Especially given the fact Torreira ended up leaving the tour halfway through without even playing anyway, it just made no sense. And he headed off to Italy, where I think he still is. He’s not in training, I know that.
“And yet, there’s no deal close. As far as I’m aware, no deal close with any team. And so it’s just it’s just an odd situation. It’s not doing anyone any good and just a shame that Fiorentina didn’t come through with the money.”
Will Arsenal sell Lucas Torreira this summer for a good price?
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TIF thoughts on Lucas Torreira and Arsenal…
Torreira’s representative Pablo Bentancur came out recently and said that his player had sorted ‘pre-agreement’ to join Valencia but evidently no fee could be agreed yet between Arsenal and the Spanish club.
As Watts makes clear it doesn’t look as though the player is close to joining any team at this moment in time and with the player actually now back in training with the Gunners that claim still rings true.
However, with the player’s future so clearly away from the club, it does seem odd that Arsenal wouldn’t rather take one of their talented youngsters such as Patino on tour instead.