As Barcelona continue planning for the coming transfer window, information coming from the club contradicts info coming from Arthur Melo’s people.
Arthur Melo was signed by Barça from Grêmio in the summer of 2018, and hit the ground running in Barcelona. The Brazilian midfielder excelled in controlling the tempo of the games he played in, as well as evading pressure very well. This has made him a hot topic of discussion, as clubs around the world look ahead to a very unusual transfer market struck by the recent coronavirus pandemic.
Juventus have been the club mainly talking to Barcelona about Arthur, with sources confirming to ESPN that informal talks about the Brazilian have been held. In fact, the sources say that names such as Miralem Pjanic, the Uruguayan midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, and the Dutch defender, Matthijs de Ligt, all have been discussed.
However, sources close to Arthur Melo say the player has been told something else; Barcelona have told him that they count on him staying, although only three players have been declared immovable. The player himself has also voiced his opinion, saying he is very happy at the club, and wants to stay ‘for many years to come’.
“If Barça had told him he can speak with other clubs, it would be because they do not want him. But that has not happened and Arthur [Melo] is 100 percent convinced he will continue where he is,” the source close to Arthur told ESPN.
“He is at the best club in the world and a move to [Juventus in] Italy is not in his plans. He wants to stay where he is and Barça have said they are counting on him,” the source added.
The Brazilian midfielder’s contract runs out in 2024, with him having signed on a six-year contract.
