Max Allegri described Arthur Melo as ‘extraordinary’ earlier this year. The player is set to join Liverpool on loan from Juventus.
Liverpool are hoping to sign Arthur Melo from Juventus tonight. That’s the line from just about everywhere, including the BBC. It appears the player is in the final stages of sealing the move.
It’s a surprise one, of course. Liverpool don’t really sign players on loan unless it’s an emergency – as we saw with Ozan Kabak. Even stranger is that there’s no option to buy here. The Reds will have Arthur for one year, and then he’s off.
It’s not as though Arthur is known as a world-class player, either. He’s essentially surplus to requirements at Juventus and they’re happy to let him go. Liverpool, it seems, were the only ones willing to pay his wages, though.
So what do they think of Arthur at Juventus? Even if he’s not a key player for them, it’s clear that they rate his talent. Manager Massimiliano Allegri had this to say about the Brazilian earlier this year.
“Arthur is improving, he played very well on Sunday [against Hellas Verona[,” he said, per the Mirror.
“He’s like a child, always running behind the ball. Sometimes he has to handle himself a little bit more, but he put in a great performance against Hellas Verona. He has extraordinary technical abilities.”
How Allegri described Arthur Melo
It’s what you want to hear, really. No, Arthur isn’t a first-team player for Juventus but the talent is there. Liverpool might even like that he’s ‘like a child’ with his running.
Running lots – even chaotically – is a large part of the attack.
As for Arthur’s technical skills, no one should doubt them. We think he’s one of the best passers in Europe and Liverpool will inject serious quality with his arrival. Hopefully, that’s the big takeaway come the end of the season.
Because if Liverpool make the most of Arthur, they’re undoubtedly getting a brilliant player for this campaign.
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