The first formal approach. Gremio confirmed that they have started negotiations with Barcelona for the transfer of Arthur, the 21-year-old Brazilian 'jewel' who shone in the last Copa Libertadores and whom many consider as the replacement for Andrés Iniesta. The meeting between representatives of both clubs took place on Saturday night at the residence of Gremio's president, Romildo Bolzan Júnior, as revealed by the Spanish media Sport.
"There was a meeting yesterday, we received a representative from Barcelona. For now, there is nothing else to comment, only that a formal conversation has been initiated with us, it is a start," explained the executive football director, André Zanotta. "Everyone knows that there is interest from Barcelona, but there are also other big clubs that have inquired about Arthur," he added.
The objective of Barcelona is to reach an agreement for the Brazilian player on Monday, on the eve of the January transfer market deadline, in order to prevent any other club, such as Real Madrid for example, from overtaking them and presenting a better offer.
Zanotta also confirmed that even if he is sold now, the Brazilian midfielder will not leave Porto Alegre until the end of the 2018 World Cup, a tournament he has chances of participating in if he completes his recovery and impresses Tité.
Arthur is in the final phase of recovering from the ankle injury he suffered in the final of the Copa Libertadores. He could return for the final of the Recopa Sudamericana against Independiente in February.