After all, Barca have required a Luis Suarez replacement for two years yet somehow found themselves in a position where they had to make an emergency signing in February of Martin Braithwaite just so they had enough numbers in attack for the remainder of the campaign. They may have topped this year's Deloitte Football Money League but they have spent close to €1 billion over the past six years and arguably only made five good signings: Luis Suarez, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Samuel Umtiti, De Jong and Arthur. Indeed, it was no coincidence that Setien's decision to replace him with Riqui Puig in last Tuesday's crucial win over Athletic Club changed the entire complexion of the match. The latest from Europe's top leagues. If Arthur has been poor this season, Pjanic has been worse. Although he is not known for his goalscoring ability, he still is able to contribute to his team's offensive play by providing assists and "pre-assists". Like many of us, Arthur had often wondered if the six-time Ballon d'Or winner was really human. And the fans do not want him to leave – certainly not as part of what is effectively a swap deal involving Miralem Pjanic. Griezmann's inclusion in La Liga's most disappointing team 'harsh' (1:34), Sources: Arthur wants Barca exit before UCL, Soccer's wild weekend: Big scores, handball drama, Bayern's stunning loss and more, MLS Power Rankings: Youthful Philly replaces Columbus at No.1, Higuain misses pen, brawls on Miami debut defeat, Bundesliga club sack boss after players' strike, Sources: Rapids return seven more COVID positives, Man City agree €68m deal for Benfica's Dias, Sources: Man Utd to fight until end for Sancho, Ancelotti: Coleman like Maldini, Terry, Ramos, La Liga club threaten own sponsors over tweet, LIVE Transfer Talk: Man United turn focus to Chelsea's N'Golo Kante, Transfer window countdown: Man United need help; Barcelona rebuild, Man City have spent £368m on defenders in four years. Born in Goiânia, he began his career at Grêmio winning the Copa Libertadores in 2017 and Campeonato Gaúcho in 2018. Arthur sets a six year La Liga record", "98.6% - Arthur Melo completed 98.6% of his passes against Lyon (71/72)", "Barcelona's new Xavi? Barca … This has led several figures in the sport to draw comparisons between them and Arthur. He has grown increasingly inconsistent, and looked slow and ponderous on the ball. Lionel Messi knew little about Arthur when the midfielder arrived at Camp Nou. [19] During his time at Barcelona, however, he came under criticism from Luis Suárez, Ernesto Valverde and journalist Robbie Dunne, among others, for his positional play, and for his apparent reluctance to pass the ball in the direction that the offensive team was trying to move towards, the opposition's goal line. The priority in the middle of the pitch is to not lose the ball and he makes it look easy. In 2016, Arthur made his league debut in the last match of the season, a 1–0 home loss against Botafogo, replacing Kaio in the second half. Arthur joined Barca from Gremio for an initial €30m in 2018 and was soon compared to club legend Xavi Hernandez. [20] In the 2019 Copa América Final against hosts Peru on 7 July, at the Maracanã Stadium, Arthur assisted Gabriel Jesus's match-winning goal towards the end of the first half; the match eventually ended in a 3–1 victory to Brazil. In November, was elected by Conmebol the man of match in the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final against Lanús, despite playing only 50 minutes due to an injury. The problem is that Barcelona have never been so reliant upon his genius. (1:34). Arthur, 23, has agreed to a five-year deal with Juve, with sources telling ESPN he will earn significantly more than he is currently earning at Barca. On 31 August 2019, Arthur scored his first goal for Barcelona in 2–2 away draw against Osasuna. “I see myself in Arthur,” the Barca icon told Radio Catalunya. Indeed, perhaps the biggest compliment one could pay him is that Barcelona always looked like a better team with him in the starting line-up. • Best statement signings ever they have spent close to €1 billion over the past six years and arguably only made five good signings, The subsequent suspension of play caused by the coronavirus outbreak only further highlighted the deep divisions at Camp Nou, the scale of the club's financial problems. The flagship Barça school. It is a ridiculous situation for a club of Barcelona's size and revenue. Arthur returned to Barcelona last Friday after speaking with club sporting director Eric Abidal. He was, therefore, pleasantly surprised to discover that the new arrival's style of play bore a striking resemblance to that of a former team-mate. “He thinks quickly and he still has work to do, because I improved my game at Barca and I would not have got so good in another school. Lionel Messi knew little about Arthur when the midfielder arrived at Camp Nou. [8] Arthur signed a six-year contract and was officially announced as a Barça player on 9 July 2018. Barcelona right now are more concerned with balancing the books than constructing a Champions League-winning squad. Arthur commence à jouer avec le club de sa ville natale, le Goiás Esporte Clube, à l'âge de douze ans. I see great potential in him.”. His playing style and build earned drawn comparisons with Spanish midfielders Andrés Iniesta and Thiago,[4] and attracted interest from European clubs such as Chelsea,[5] Barcelona and Atlético Madrid. In July, he scored his first league goal, the second in a 3–1 away victory against Vitória. "[19], In May 2019, Arthur was included in Brazil's 23-man squad for the 2019 Copa América on home soil. Pjanic was a fine footballer but he is 30 now and evidently in decline. In May 2018, he was named in the standby list for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In 2010, after being spotted in a youth tournament, he moved to Grêmio. “But Arthur looks mature. He was part of the Brazil under-17 squad selected to play in the 2013 South American Under-17 Football Championship. • Summer transfer grades [10], Arthur made his competitive debut at the 2018 Supercopa de España on 12 August, in which Barcelona won 2–1 over Sevilla. However, he was substituted at half-time by Argentine full-back Matías Rodríguez and made no more senior appearances that season. The Brazilian was transferred to Juventus in an operation that brought Miralem Pjanic to the Camp Nou. ... Ernesto Valverde discusses the GOAT, plus Lenglet, Vidal, Arthur and Dembélé in his end-of-year interview with Barça TV. However, injuries and inconsistent form saw him lose his place in the team at times this season. That could have been the case against Napoli, with midfielders Sergio Busquets and Arturo Vidal both suspended, but the emergence of Riqui Puig has further pushed Arthur down the pecking order, making it highly unlikely he features again before moving to Italy. At first, Arthur insisted that he wanted to stay at Barca but eventually had his mind changed, with sources telling ESPN that Brazil teammate Daniel Alves was among those who convinced him to make the move to Turin. Despite not graduating from La Masia, he poses many playing styles and techniques that are ingrained into Barcelona produced footballers at a young age, thus leading to many pundits, experts and former players opining that he has "Barça DNA" ingrained into him. However, Arthur did not turn up and sources said that he doesn't want to be involved in the preparations and would prefer that his Camp Nou stay ended immediately. Copyright © 2020 Goal.com All rights reserved. [25] Regarded as a promising young prospect in world football,[26] former Barcelona midfielder Iniesta praised Arthur in February 2019, stating that his presence in midfield was highly positive for Barcelona's future at the time. [28], Four appearances in Campeonato Gaúcho, two appearances in, [ˈaʁtuʁ ẽ.ˈʁi.ki ˈʁɐ.muʃ d͡ʒi o.li.ˈvej.ɾɐ], 2013 South American Under-17 Football Championship, Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year, Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Best Newcomer, "Acta del Partido celebrado el 04 de mayo de 2019, en Vigo", "Criação da base: conheça trajetória de Arthur, volante goiano que conquista torcida gremista", "Para Ricardo Rocha, Arthur cairia como uma luva no Barça: "Lembra o Iniesta, "Grêmio recusa proposta de mais de R$ 40 milhões por Arthur", "Atlético de Madrid envia olheiro para observar Arthur, do Grêmio", "Arthur se doctora ante Robert Fernández", "Barça and Gremio reach agreement on option for Arthur transfer", "Espectacular estreno de Arthur: golazo y partidazo", "FC Barcelona win 13th Spanish Super Cup", "Arthur Melo scores his first-ever Barcelona goal in draw with Osasuna", "Arthur: «Felice per il mio debutto in Serie A. Buon lavoro di squadra»", "OFFICIAL | Arthur & Pjanic, agreements with FC Barcelona", "AS Roma vs. Juventus - Football Match Report", "Volante Arthur é convocado para a Seleção Brasileira Sub-17", "Lista de 35 de Tite para a Copa tem três novatos: Dedé, Maicon e Paquetá", "Philippe Coutinho on target as Arthur makes first start", "Barcelona: Tite: Arthur always finds the best escape, the best pass out", "Xavi Hernandez "Arthur can mark an era at Barcelona, "Arthur Melo and the demands of a Barcelona interior", "The new Xavi? [17], He made his international debut against United States in a 2–0 friendly win on the 7th of September 2018 coming on as a substitute. [7], On 11 March 2018, Barcelona reached an agreement with Grêmio for the transfer of Arthur. His agility, technical ability, dribbling and movement – both on and off the ball – allow him to create space and control the flow of play in midfield, whilst his exceptional vision, playmaking ability, and precise passing allow him to retain possession, create chances, and make decisive passes for teammates. Arthur made his senior debut for Brazil in 2018 after previously being capped by Brazil youth team at under-17 level. [12][13], On 29 June 2020, Barcelona announced that they had reached an agreement with Juventus for the transfer of Arthur on a five-year contract for €72 million, plus €10 million in variables; the deal was also coordinated with a swap of Miralem Pjanić. Arthur began his career with his hometown club Goiás at age of 12. Given the situation, an aggrieved Arthur wants to end his Barca career now. Here's how Pep's signings rank, How VAR decisions have affected every Premier League club in 2020-21, Fati 9/10, Messi 7/10 as Barca pour on the style in Koeman's debut, Can't even watch that game again - Foudy on Sydney 2000, Manchester City defence exposed by Leicester City but help is on the way, Man United's luck at Brighton shouldn't obscure familiar, frustrating issues, Meet Tanner Tessmann, the kid who chose FC Dallas over Clemson football, Messi and Barcelona: The inside story on how everything fell apart, and what's next, Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only), What did you miss? He's had 2292 touches in La Liga this season, which is more than he racked up during the entire 2008-09 campaign (2158) – and nearly as many Barca's midfield lynchpin Sergio Busquets this term (2457). [14] He made his club and Serie A debut on 27 September, coming on as substitute in a 2–2 away draw against Roma. [24] Arthur's highest pass accuracy in a single match with Barcelona is 98.6%, which he achieved when he completed 71 passes out of 72 attempted in a Champions League knockout match against Lyon in 2019. Arthur Henrique Ramos de Oliveira Melo (Brazilian Portuguese: [ˈaʁtuʁ ẽ.ˈʁi.ki ˈʁɐ.muʃ d͡ʒi o.li.ˈvej.ɾɐ]; born 12 August 1996), commonly known as Arthur or Arthur Melo, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Juventus and the Brazil national team. He has to drop deep to make things happen in midfield and then get forward to set up or finish chances. Setien had previously said that Arthur would play for the club again only if it was absolutely necessary. He clearly does not want to go. • How the summer transfer market works He plays well and steadily. But no longer surprising. Messi, though, was not as familiar with Arthur's talents. Champions? Even before he was, according to coach Quique Setien, distracted by the transfer talk, the 23-year-old was performing poorly. He was ridiculously comfortable in possession of the ball, and moved it quickly and effectively. They could yet take action against him for breach of contract if an amicable solution is not reached and he doesn't return to training this week. Even if he doesn't provide the assist, he comes up with the pass that will help a player. Arthur Melo has said he wants to stay at Barcelona but sources have told ESPN the club are open to listening to offers for the midfielder or using him as part of a player-exchange deal. En 2010, il est repéré par le Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense qui le recrute. Much like contemporary and former Barcelona teammate Frenkie de Jong, Arthur is regarded as a visionary player always looking for spaces to pass the ball. It is a signing that makes no sense from a sporting perspective but then, this is not really about football – it's about business. However, Barca are not just wasting money – they are also wasting Messi's final years at the very highest level. Barca may like to label themselves 'more than a club' but right now they're less than Messi deserves. As the club looked to bring in money to meet financial deadlines by June 30, they were prepared to listen to offers for the midfielder and eventually struck a deal with Juve in May. [15], Arthur has represented Brazil in under-17 level. [16], On 15 September 2017, Arthur received his first senior call-up to the Brazil squad to face Bolivia and Chile for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification. Arthur Melo returned to Barcelona as a gesture of goodwill, but the club did not pardon the 23-year-old. He joined Italian club Juventus in 2020. Arthur, 23, did not feature in any of Barca's final six games after the Juve deal, which is worth a potential €82 million, was announced on June 30. In 2017, Arthur become a first-team regular after a string of good performances in Primeira Liga and Campeonato Gaúcho. “I didn't know that much about Arthur but he seems similar to Xavi," the Argentine told Radio Catalunya. The youngster brought the energy and incision that had previously characterised Arthur's game. [9] On 28 July, Arthur scored a goal on his debut against Tottenham Hotspur in a pre-season friendly match. Quite what Barca are going to do with him is anyone's guess, given Sergio Busquets, Frenkie de Jong and the aforementioned Puig all look better options in the middle of the pitch. The club are in talks about how to handle the situation. • Latest completed major transfers. Those Xavi comparisons just kept coming during Arthur's impressive debut season at Camp Nou. Julien Laurens explains why Antoine Griezmann's struggles were largely due to Barcelona's style of play. So, the issue is not so much that Barca are selling Arthur – but that they are replacing him with Pjanic. He has always posted ridiculous numbers in that sense, of course. Arthur Melo and Barcelona are negotiating the midfielder's early release from the club following a lack of minutes since his transfer to Juventus was confirmed, sources have told ESPN. [6] In May, Arthur scored his first professional goal, the opener in a 3–1 victory against Fluminense for the Copa do Brasil. At the time, Barca said Arthur would remain available for selection for the rest of the season, as would Miralem Pjanic for Juventus, who is moving in the other direction for €60m. The latest from Europe's top leagues. Arthur began his career with his hometown club Goiás at age of 12. On Monday it was confirmed that Barca have reached an agreement to sell Arthur to Juventus in a deal worth an initial €72 million ((£66m/$81m). He is not going to get the chance to realise it at Barcelona, though. In his Copa Libertadores debut, a 1–1 away draw against Club Guaraní, he was named man-of-the-match after completing 40 passes, with an impressive 100% rate success. The Bosnian has failed dismally to adapt to Maurizio Sarri's brand of football at Juventus and has, rightly, been deemed surplus to requirements. The Argentine turned 33 last Wednesday and he remains an outstanding player. In truth, though, one need only watch them play to understand how badly the club is run, with their star player now surrounded by a largely sub-standard supporting cast. He was later part of the squad that won the 2019 Copa América. He grasped it very quickly, the dynamic of the team.”. [21], —Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi on Arthur[22]. However, the Brazil international has grown frustrated by his lack of game time since the deal was confirmed. The information contained in Goal.com may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the prior written authority of Goal.com, Swapping the 23-year-old Brazilian for the 30-year-old Bosnian makes no sporting sense but the Blaugrana have to balance the books, Transfer LIVE: Spurs join Barca & PSG in Rudiger chase, Chelsea face Alonso-Emerson sale dilemma after West Brom fall out, Man City to end two-year Dias pursuit with £62m signing, How FIFA soundtracks became cultural tastemakers: 'The music you listen to defines your life', Man City's hidden defensive flaw revealed and why Ruben Dias won't resolve it, New season, same old Man City: Guardiola needs to spend and sort defence before it's too late, How 'incredible' Torreira went from Arsenal's missing link to midfield misfit, Barca have reached an agreement to sell Arthur to Juventus in a deal worth an initial €72 million ((£66m/$81m). The Blaugrana have scored 72 goals in La Liga this season; Messi has been directly involved in more than half of them (21 goals, 17 assists). What is significant now, though, is just how involved Messi is in Barca's play. Arthur, 23, did not feature in any of Barca's final six games after the Juve deal, which is worth a potential €82 million, was announced on June 30. The Brazilian joked in the summer of 2018 that an added bonus of joining Barcelona would be the chance to check if Messi "is from this planet or not". • Barnwell's best moves: 100-51 | 50-1 In his three years at Grêmio, Arthur established himself as a prospect which led Barcelona to sign him for an initial fee of €31 million in 2018. The Spaniards agreed to pay an initial fee of €31 million plus €9 million in added variables. Impressive Arthur a ray of light in Valencia draw | Goal.com", "Arthur and Dembele earn praise from Barca great Iniesta", "Maresca: "Sarri va aspettato. [23], During a match against Valencia he attempted 142 passes, 135 of them successful; this was the highest number of successful passes in a single La Liga away game that any player had produced since Xavi in November 2012 against Levante. Teaching Barça values to boys and girls. - Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only) "He’s very safe and trustworthy. The subsequent suspension of play caused by the coronavirus outbreak only further highlighted the deep divisions at Camp Nou and the scale of the club's financial problems. • Kuper: Coronavirus' impact on transfers Setien's appointment in January should have been a positive development for Arthur, given the former Betis' boss possession-orientated style of play. Gifted with excellent ball-control, he is difficult to dispossess when on the ball; he often utilises his dribbling skills to great effect, and is known for using a feint known as "la pelopina", which had previously often been performed by former Barcelona midfielders Xavi and Andrés Iniesta. The Brazilian's first start was against El Salvador in a 5–0 win on the 12th of September. He unexpectedly started in his first team debut, against Aimoré for the Campeonato Gaúcho. [18] Arthur is not having a good season. Tite praised the midfielder's playing style saying, "He always finds the best escape, the best pass out". He has La Masia style: playing short passes, without losing the ball. Essentially, the captain is having to do everything. He wasn't among the substitutes for the final league game against Alaves, despite Barca having only three outfield changes. - What did you miss? [11] Arthur made his league debut during the first league match of the season, also registering his first assist for the club in a 3–0 win against Alavés. Attenti al Manchester City, è pericoloso, "Arthur: Arthur Henrique Ramos de Oliveira Melo 2018–19", "Games played by Arthur Melo in 2019/2020", "Corinthians domina seleção do Brasileiro e tem quatro jogadores entre os melhores", "El equipo ideal de la CONMEBOL Copa América Brasil 2019", "Rankings: How All 55 Male Players Finished", 2017 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arthur_Melo&oldid=980707711, Brazil under-20 international footballers, Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Spain, Articles with dead external links from September 2019, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles using Template:Medal with Winner, Pages using national squad without sport or team link, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:10, 27 September 2020 (UTC), This page was last edited on 28 September 2020, at 00:03. [27] In 2020, former midfielder Enzo Maresca stated that he felt Arthur was best suited to the roles of either an attacking midfielder or a mezzala. Arthur, 24, from Brazil Juventus FC, since 2020 Central Midfield Market value: €56.00m * Aug 12, 1996 in Goiânia, Brazil Arthur - Player profile 20/21 | Transfermarkt For using this site, please activate JavaScript. Messi's also completed 151 dribbles – nobody else has managed more than 43 (De Jong). The relationship between Arthur and Barca has soured in recent weeks to the point that he no longer wants to be involved in the club's Champions League campaign, which resumes against Napoli on Aug. 8. In 2010, after being spotted in a youth tournament, he moved to Grêmio.[3]. A versatile midfielder, Arthur is capable of playing as a deep-lying playmaker, central midfielder, box-to-box midfielder, and occasionally also as a holding midfielder. Barca's players underwent the latest round of coronavirus testing on Monday ahead of Tuesday's return to training to plan for that last-16 second-leg game (they drew 1-1 in Italy). Coach Quique Setien said Arthur claimed he had an ankle problem but the Catalan club did not release a statement regarding any injury, which is customary when players miss matches with fitness issues. The last thing this Barca squad needs is another ageing player who is clearly past his best. Setien's decision to replace him with Riqui Puig in last Tuesday's crucial win over Athletic Club changed the entire complexion of the match. However, Arthur has arguably regressed. In January 2015, following his impressive performances at the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior, Arthur was promoted from Grêmio's youth team under first-team manager Luiz Felipe Scolari.