Lucas Torreira is currently on loan at Atlético Madrid from Arsenal but has revealed in an interview with ESPN that he wants to give up playing football in Europe.
The Uruguay international has been given time off by Atlético after his mother lost her battle with coronavirus on Monday.
Torreira is now hoping that Arsenal will grant him permission to join Argentine giants Boca Juniors at the end of the season to fulfil the wish of his family following the death of his mother.
“I am trying to understand the situation. It is difficult to come to terms with it but as time passes, we will come to live with this pain. My mother was 53 years old and died from coronavirus. She spent 11 days fighting but on Monday morning I received the worst news. I asked Atlético for some time off. ‘Cholo’ [Diego Simeone] understood everything and they gave me a week, but I asked to stay for a little longer.
“On Sunday I will probably return. Life must continue. Atlético have been very good to me and it’s important. It’s not a violent emotion, a crazy decision because of my mother. I have always said that I want to play for Boca. I’m dying to play for Boca and I will always say it. The night my mother died, one of the first to hear the news was my agent. I told him I don’t want to play in Europe anymore, I want to play for Boca.
“I want to be close to my home, my family. I have a contract at Arsenal and I am on loan at Atlético but I want to go to Boca. I hope the clubs can agree.”
