Lucas Torreira has revealed how a phone call from Unai Emery helped him decide to join Arsenal in the summer transfer window.
In an interview with the club’s official YouTube channel, as cited in a report from Metro, the Uruguayan midfielder discussed how his summer switch to the Emirates Stadium came about.
A whole host of clubs from across Europe were linked with moves for the player, who had caught the eye with some impressive performances in the Sampdoria first team.
However, it seems a surprise phone call from newly-appointed Gunners boss Emery was enough to convince Torreira that a move to the Premier League was the best course of action. He said:
Before I left for the World Cup, I got a call from the coach [Emery] which was a massive surprise for me. I knew that I had earned it because of all my hard work and everything that I had done.
That phone call made me a happy man. It allowed me to relax too because it allowed me to focus all my attention on the national team and the World Cup. I’m so proud to be part of such an important team.
Following a £26 million move, the 22-year-old has established himself as an important member of the Arsenal starting line-up after a slow integration into the team.
Torreira has found the net in two of his last three outings, with goals in recent wins against Tottenham Hotspur and Huddersfield Town.
