Lucas Torreira: “I keep the lighters thrown onto the pitch”
Galatasaray’s Uruguayan midfield star Lucas Torreira has offered striking insights into the intensity of Turkish derbies and the objects hurled from the stands, admitting that he literally collects them as “war trophies.”
Speaking on the YouTube program *Terapia Picante*, Torreira described how the cauldron-like atmosphere in Turkey not only fails to intimidate him, but actually fuels his competitive fire on the pitch.
The experienced midfielder, who has quickly become a fan favorite at Galatasaray for his aggression, work rate and never-say-die attitude, confessed that he thrives in the charged, often hostile environment of big games. For him, the noise, insults and even the objects thrown from the stands are all part of a football culture that he deeply enjoys.
“I enjoy it when rival fans insult me”
Torreira drew special attention with his comments about the emotional and sometimes volatile setting of Turkish derbies, especially the clash between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe. He compared these matches to the fiercest rivalries he experienced growing up in South America:
> “Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe is the most heated derby and also the one that most resembles those in South America. I absolutely love playing in that kind of match. I enjoy it when rival fans insult me. It really pleases me.”
For many players, the whistles and curses coming from the stands can be a source of pressure. Torreira, however, sees them as a form of energy, a challenge that pushes him to raise his level. According to him, the more the opposition fans get on his back, the more focused and determined he becomes.
“I hide the lighters and coins in my socks”
What really surprised people, though, was Torreira’s attitude toward the objects thrown onto the pitch during tense encounters. Rather than simply ignoring or discarding them, he turns them into personal souvenirs.
Describing this unusual habit, the Uruguayan midfielder explained:
> “I hide the lighters and coins that are thrown at me in my socks. I carry them with me in my thermal bag. I like it a lot, as if they were war trophies. Plastic cups, flares… It’s not a good thing, but as a footballer I enjoy it.”
Torreira is fully aware that throwing objects from the stands is dangerous and strictly prohibited. Yet from his individual perspective, these items symbolize the extremity of the passion that surrounds such matches. For him, they are reminders of the battles fought on the pitch, of the tension, and of the emotional charge that makes derbies unforgettable.
A South American spirit in the heart of Istanbul
Torreira’s words also highlight why he has adapted so well to Turkish football. Coming from a football culture in Uruguay where derbies and rivalries are lived with incredible intensity, the fiery atmosphere in Istanbul feels familiar rather than shocking.
The Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe rivalry, in his view, mirrors the explosive clashes between traditional South American giants. Choreographies, deafening noise, banners and songs, but also the constant verbal pressure on opposing players, remind him of the environments he grew up in. This cultural similarity makes him feel “at home” in Turkey, particularly in high-stakes matches.
Feeding off hostility as motivation
Torreira’s approach to hostility in stadiums says a lot about his personality and playing style. He does not attempt to escape the pressure or block it out; he embraces it and converts it into motivation.
Derbies are often decided not only by tactics and quality, but also by how players handle nerves and emotional swings. Torreira’s calm yet combative mindset gives him an edge. Being booed, insulted or targeted by the crowd does not destabilize him – it sharpens his concentration and reinforces his desire to win duels, close spaces and dictate the rhythm in midfield.
For a defensive midfielder whose role is to disrupt the opponent’s play and fire up his own team, this mental toughness is invaluable. He channels the negativity aimed at him into a kind of inner battle cry.
“War trophies” as a reflection of passion
Describing lighters, coins, cups and even flares as “war trophies” is provocative, but it reflects the way Torreira romanticizes the struggle on the field. Those objects, in his mind, represent the extremity of the emotional investment from the stands.
By keeping them, he creates a private archive of the most intense moments of his career. Every lighter or coin tells a story: a particularly heated away game, a crucial derby win, or a night when the opposition crowd did everything to throw him off his game – and failed.
From a psychological perspective, this ritual may also serve as a way of owning the hostility directed at him. Instead of seeing himself as a victim of aggression, he reframes the situation: he emerges as the one who “takes home” the trophies from the battlefield.
Not an endorsement of dangerous behavior
Even as he confesses that he likes these “trophies,” Torreira does not claim that throwing objects is acceptable. He explicitly notes that “it’s not a good thing,” acknowledging the obvious risks for players, staff and even other fans.
In modern football, safety regulations are strict, and governing bodies regularly fine or sanction clubs when objects are thrown onto the field. Torreira’s fascination is personal and symbolic; it does not change the fact that such acts can cause serious injuries and disrupt matches.
However, his comments underline a paradox often present in intense football cultures: the same emotional tension that generates incredible atmosphere can, when it spills over, produce dangerous and undesirable behavior. Torreira’s testimony exposes this thin line while simultaneously revealing how a certain type of player feeds off that very tension.
Why some players need the cauldron
Not every footballer reacts like Torreira. Some prefer calmer stadiums, where they can play without feeling under siege. Others, especially those shaped by South American or Balkan football, often feel more alive when they are in hostile environments, surrounded by noise, pressure and abuse from the stands.
Torreira belongs firmly to this second category. For him, the ideal match is not a quiet league fixture but a tense derby where everything is at stake – titles, pride, bragging rights. These matches sharpen his instincts. The battle in midfield, the duels, the boos and insults, all build a narrative that he is eager to be part of.
This is also why he fits so well at a club like Galatasaray, where expectations are enormous and success is demanded every season. A player capable of thriving in these conditions brings psychological stability to the team.
A symbol of Galatasaray’s fighting edge
On the pitch, Torreira is known for his relentless pressing, hard tackles, and ability to cover large areas. Off the pitch, his remarks about derbies add another dimension to his image. He is not just a disciplined midfielder; he is someone who genuinely revels in the storm.
For Galatasaray fans, this attitude is both reassuring and inspiring. They want to see players who understand what the big games mean, who do not shy away from pressure, and who are willing to “go to war” for the shirt. Torreira’s habit of keeping “war trophies” might be unconventional, but it reinforces the perception of him as a warrior on the field.
The emotional core of Turkish derbies
Torreira’s interview once again brings into focus why Turkish derbies are so often described as among the most intense in the world. It is not only about the quality of football, but about emotion, identity and history. For many supporters, these matches symbolize far more than three points; they are expressions of belonging and rivalry that have been built up over decades.
Players like Torreira, who understand and embrace this dimension, become key figures in the story of these clashes. By comparing the Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derby to the fiercest South American rivalries and by treating even the aggression directed towards him as part of the spectacle, he encapsulates the raw, unfiltered nature of football in Turkey.
A career defined by fire, not comfort
Ultimately, Lucas Torreira’s comments reveal a footballer who does not seek comfort, but confrontation. He accepts the darker sides of the game’s passion while drawing strength from them, and he turns episodes that could be frightening or discouraging into personal motivation and memories.
Whether carefully placing a coin in his sock during a chaotic night or smiling to himself as rival fans shower him with insults, Torreira is building his own mythology within the modern game. For him, every derby is another chapter in a long, intense story – and every lighter or coin he keeps is proof that he was right at the heart of the fire.