Lucas Torreira's transfer to Arsenal appears close to completion after Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero said the player had "left" the club.
Sky Italy reported last week that the Gunners had offered £26.4m (30m euro) in instalments for the 22-year-old, rather than paying his £22m release clause up-front.
Speaking live on Italian television, Ferrero said: "Torreira left for 30m euro. I bought him from Pescara when no one believed in him. We placed a bet and we won, paying just 3m euro.
"La Samp does not sell unless there are excellent offers. We do not look for buyers. We have natural talents whose value increases exponentially."
Ferrero also suggested that all that was left to do was for Arsenal and Sampdoria to make the transfer official.
Torreira has made 74 appearances for Sampdoria since joining the Serie A side in 2015, and is set to become Unai Emery's third signing of the summer.
The Uruguay international is currently at the World Cup in Russia with his national team, for whom he has four caps.