Arthur Melo, the Brazilian player, has been officially presented as the new FC Barcelona player. He is the first reinforcement for the culés, who hope to make good moves in this transfer market in order to not only repeat their great campaign in La Liga but also reach the final stages of the Champions League, in which the team led by Ernesto Valverde left much to be desired in the last edition.
@arthurmeloreal
- FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 12, 2018
#EnjoyArthurpic.twitter.com/b3jHxYdLSn
@arthurmeloreal
#EnjoyArthurpic.twitter.com/EIIsBdGH0r- FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 12, 2018
But who is Arthur Melo? We know that he comes from Gremio in Brazil, but few know that he started in the lower divisions of Golás Esporte Clube, where he stood out despite not being known for his great technical ability or dribbling, nor for the "fantasy" that characterizes Brazilian futebol.
However, those who knew him in those early years highlighted his maturity, physical strength, and his ability to make successful passes, specializing in breaking through the opponent's central defense and showing great skill at getting open.
These skills drew the interest of Gremio de Porto Alegre, which signed him for its reserve team when young Arthur was 15 years old in 2010. In 2015, he made his debut in the main team under the guidance of coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who also made him a starter for the "tricolor gaúcho" (Gremio), but in 2016 he would be relegated to the substitutes' bench. However, in 2017, he was one of the keys to the Brazilian team winning the Copa Libertadores that year.
After this and following a standout performance in the Copa Brasil, Arthur injured his ankle in the continental final against Argentine side Lanús, jeopardizing his presence in the Club World Cup. The three-month injury ruled him out of the Brazil national team's call-up for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
With his arrival at Camp Nou, signing a 6-year contract with a €400 million release clause, Arthur has already joined the coaching staff led by Ernesto Valverde to participate in FC Barcelona's training sessions in preparation for the 2018-2019 season, as well as the Champions League.
Arthur's first touches at Camp Nou!
- FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 12, 2018
#EnjoyArthur
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Arthur arrives at a time when FC Barcelona needs to strengthen its midfield, especially after the departures of Andrés Iniesta to Japanese football and the surprising return of Paulinho to the Chinese league. He will have the opportunity to demonstrate his best qualities in this area of the field.
Being quite versatile, Arthur Melo can play as a pivot or in more offensive positions, although he doesn't have many goal-scoring opportunities. He excels in long passes and also provides defensive support when positioned as a holding midfielder.