Lucas Torreira left Arsenal to join Atletico Madrid on loan because "he didn't count" under Mikel Arteta, according to the player's father.
The Uruguayan midfielder signed for the LaLiga outfit on a season-long loan on transfer deadline day, with Thomas Partey eventually heading in the other direction in a £45million deal.
The 24-year-old had been frozen out of the first team by Arteta after suffering a dip in form, having initially enjoyed a fine start to his Arsenal career after being signed from Sampdoria in 2018.
But injuries to the midfielder and the rise of Dani Ceballos gradually saw him phased out of the Gunners' starting XI - and now Torreira's father, Ricardo, has explained why his son opted to leave.
"Lucas has a huge heart and puts a lot of effort into everything he does," he told Madrid publication Libertad Digital.
"That’s why he’s not one of the players who likes to be on the bench waiting for minutes.
"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."
Despite failing to get enough game time under Arteta, Torreira is keen to return to Arsenal to rebuild his career and the door was left open by the fact that an option to make his Atletico loan permanent next summer was not included in the deal.
"Lucas wasn’t on the bench because he wanted to be there, but by decision of his coach," his father added.
"For a 24-year-old boy, recognised in Uruguay and around the world, the most necessary thing is to play.
"Arsenal decided that he wouldn’t have minutes, but we promise, God willing, if everything goes well and if there’s a coach at Arsenal who loves him when his contract with Atletico ends, he’ll leave his soul there again if they want him."
