Lucas Torreira "part of plans" at Arsenal despite public transfer wish

Lucas Torreira appears to be part of Mikel Arteta's plans at Arsenal as he has been called up to the club's pre-season tour of the USA.

The Uruguayan, 26, looked likely to exit the Gunners on a permanent basis this summer having been sent out on two consecutive loan spells. He at first joined Spanish giants Atletico Madrid for the 2020/21 campaign and won the La Liga crown under Diego Simeone.

Los Rojiblancos elected not to make his move to the Wanda Metropolitano permanent, so Torreira joined Serie A outfit Fiorentina last term. Once again, there was hope that the Italian side would sign him on a permanent deal and provide Arsenal with some valuable transfer funds, with the player himself keen to stay with La Viola.

However, that looks unlikely again as Fiorentina are refusing to pay the fee required to sign him. In a fresh development, the midfielder's agent has hinted that Torreira could well be back in contention at the Emirates Stadium having been selected for the Gunners' upcoming pre-season tour across the pond.

Speaking to SportItalia, per Tutto Juve, Pablo Bentancur said: "Torreira would like to stay and play in Italy but as of today, Arsenal have called him up for the tour they will do in America, so it looks like he's part of their plans."

With Arteta allowing Torreira to join up with the Gunners for the trip to the US, it appears that he has backtracked on his original call over the midfielder. Torreira himself recently admitted that there were only remote opportunities of remaining at the Emirates.

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Speaking earlier this summer, he said: "Chances of staying? None. From the beginning they told me that I had no place, so my desire is not either to stay since I suffered a lot, it cost me a lot to adapt.

He continued: "Any team that wants me has to buy my contract, which today has a value of approximately €15million (£12.7m)."

Torreira joined Arsenal in 2018 in a big-money switch from Italian side Sampdoria. He was a regular under former boss Unai Emery, making 89 appearances and scoring four goals for the club.

However, he fell down the pecking order in North London following the appointment of Mikel Arteta. His last appearance for the Gunners came in a 3-2 victory against Watford in 2020.

Arsenal are set for a busy schedule of matches in the US. Premier League rivals Everton lie in wait next weekend, before a clash with MLS outfit Orlando City only a few days later.

The Gunners round-off their tour with an encounter against London rivals Chelsea towards the back-end of July.