Lucas Torreira has revealed that he was left star-struck by some of the big names in Arsenal’s dressing room after signing for the club in the summer of 2018.
The Uruguayan midfielder was brought to north London by former Gunners boss Unai Emery in a deal worth a reported £26million from Serie A side Sampdoria.
Whilst Torreira initially impressed under Emery, he barely figured under his successor; Mikel Arteta and as a result he joined Atletico Madrid on loan for the 2020/21 season.
The 26-year-old won La Liga with Diego Simeone’s side but didn’t join them on a permanent deal.
However, the Uruguay star did put pen to paper on a season’s loan with Fiorentina last summer and appears to be thriving in Italy, having started 19 of their 24 league games this season.
Torreira took time out from his busy schedule to write a letter to Italian news outlet Cronache Di Spogliatoio about his time in the Gunners’ dressing room.
He also touched upon his joy at the fact his home-town shares the name of a popular pie brand in Fray Bentos.
"Every time I go to the national team, I try to make the most of my proximity to certain champions," he wrote.
"I have been lucky enough to meet many of them. At Arsenal, the first year, I didn’t speak English, but some in the team spoke Italian, like Sokratis, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
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"In the dressing room, Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette sat next to me. Madness. You can imagine: me drinking mate, and them next to me. Here we are, in London. Remember when I told you about Fray Bentos meat? I didn’t leave the house much, I had a person who often brought me shopping.
"One day, I go to the supermarket, and browsing the shelves, I see a label with the name of my city: 'Made in Fray Bentos'. Just like me. A village of 25,000 inhabitants in the London aisles. It was thrilling. It was a tin, yes, but it was exciting."
