Father: 'Lucas Torreira not prepared to sit on Arsenal bench'

The father and agent of Lucas Torreira has said that the midfielder was not prepared to sit on the bench at Arsenal after struggling for action under Mikel Arteta.

Torreira was not involved for the Gunners in the early stages of the 2020-21 campaign and has since joined Atletico Madrid on loan for the season.

The Uruguay international "wants to leave his soul on the pitch" but was not given the opportunity to make his mark this term, according to his father.

"Lucas has a huge heart and puts a lot of effort into everything he does. That's why he's not one of the players who likes to be on the bench waiting for minutes," Ricardo Torreira told Libertad Digital.

"He needs to show what he can give on the pitch. He's encouraged with the game. And that happened at Arsenal. Lucas is honest and wants to leave his soul on the pitch, but that is defined by the coaches and for the current Arsenal manager he didn't count."

Torreira could make his Atletico debut in Saturday's La Liga clash with Celta Vigo.