
Arthur Henrique Ramos de Oliveira Melo (foto: Getty Images)
Arthur Melo, the 28-year-old Brazilian midfielder once considered one of the most promising talents, now finds himself without a team willing to take him.
Back in 2018, Barcelona brought him from Gremio for €31 million, envisioning a bright future. At that time, he was a regular for the Brazilian national team, and Barcelona had high hopes for him. However, Arthur's progress was hindered by injuries and questionable work habits.
In September 2020, Barcelona sold Arthur to Juventus for €80 million, with Miralem Pjanic moving in the opposite direction for a similar fee. Arthur was expected to lead the midfield in Turin, yet he struggled to settle. After one season, Juventus loaned him to Liverpool, and later to Fiorentina.
Arthur saw limited playtime in England, managing only one senior appearance for Liverpool, alongside three for their youth team. In contrast, he found more opportunities in Florence, making 48 appearances for Fiorentina, scoring twice, and assisting four times. It seemed likely he would either stay in Florence or find a new club, but he remains at Juventus.
Currently, Juventus faces a dilemma. Coach Thiago Motta doesn’t count on Arthur, excluding him from the senior squad. His contract, which pays him around €6 million per season, has two years left. No team is willing to meet this salary, and Arthur is unwilling to forego his earnings. As a result, he’s spending his prime years training separately from the squad. Arthur has 22 caps and one goal for the Brazilian national team.