In 2015 he was fed on 1.50 euro kebabs and he now plays in the Premier League

Lucas Torreira's story must be told by meeting his father Ricardo. His dream was to be a footballer and that's why he went to Montevideo. In Miramar Misiones they bet on him, but he had to give up the sport he was in love with in order to work and support his family economically.

"I was a newspaper seller. I did it in Juncal and in Uruguay. I got up at five in the morning and I worked until nine at night. All my sons played football, including Claudio, who got off to an impressive start at Montevideo. But when I realised that he was starving he had to go back. When it was Lucas' turn I promised myself that the same would not happen to him," Ricardo recalled in his words to 'El Observador'.

Lucas Torreira began to come to light in Wanderers, a Uruguayan team. He went with the Under 17 team, but was left out of the 2013 World Cup, a hard blow for him. "And four days later they called me from Pescara - Italian team - to incorporate Lucas. They gave him a quick bag and we dressed him at the airport," said the current Arsenal player's father.

Aware of the opportunity, Torreira tried to play at the highest level in his arrival to European football. The Pescara B team, in a national tournament, was among the top four and he even became the captain. He finished his test successfully: the Italians wanted to sign him. From then on, in 2014, it can be said that he has already achieved professional football. He went from playing in the B team to being part of the first team in the Serie A play-offs.

"While playing in the second team, Lucas didn't get paid much. For a while the only thing we ate were kebabs from a Hindu food house that was in front of the apartment because they were only a euro and a half," recalled Torreira's father. He also remembered the day when his hairdresser, aware of the difficulties he was going through, decided to give the player a Mini Cooper for his 19th birthday. He already had how to go to training without having to depend on his teammates.

His sacrifice and sporting performance were rewarded: he went on to receive 10,000 euros a month - before he received 1,250 euros - to be part of the first team of Pescara. A giant step that Ricardo and Lucas Torreira celebrated. From there the dream began.

In the 2016-17 season, at 20-years-old, the opportunity came to sign for Sampdoria. Two more campaigns in Serie A, in which he performed at an extraordinary level, until in 2018 Arsenal came knocking on his door.

For many, big words. But Torreira responded as best he knows: rolling up his sleeves and showing how well he competes in football. Unai Emery bet on him and he even lined him up 50 times last season.

In a new season in 2019-20, the Uruguayan continues to be important for Arsenal, who have more variety in the midfield, which complicates his starting position. Nevertheless, the Emirates continue to have unwavering faith in him. But it has to be said that Torreira may be miles away from home, but he doesn't forget his roots...