Lucas Torreira's agent, Pablo Bentancur, said the midfielder could have joined AC Milan in the summer, but Arsenal would not consider letting him leave.
The Uruguayan's former mentor at Sampdoria, Marco Giampaolo, took over as the Rossoneri's manager after Gennaro Gattuso left the club at the end of last season.
Bentancur told TuttoMercatoWeb (h/t the Mirror's Alex Smith):
"There was the possibility. Giampaolo is in the heart of Lucas.
"But Arsenal said they had no intention of selling the boy. Lucas is fine, the club are happy with him.