Arthur Melo took to Instagram to show off his progress as he continues a comeback from injury. Liverpool can expect him back in early 2023.
Arthur Melo was a surprise addition in the summer transfer window, arriving at Liverpool on the final day. The Reds needed a midfielder but the Brazilian was never on the radar.
But a loan deal was struck with Juventus. Liverpool carry a £32m option to buy the player, too, but it’s hard to imagine that being triggered.
After all, Arthur only has 13 minutes under his belt in Red. The player arrived without the required fitness – missing most of Juventus’s pre-season naturally led to that – and he needed to find it.
Arthur did just that. He spent the first international break building up his fitness with the youth sides. Under 21 boss Barry Lewtas labelled him ‘first-class’ for his efforts as the international even featured for his side on a couple of occasions.
Disaster soon struck, however. Arthur went down with an injury before he could feature again and not just any injury. He hasn’t played in months and won’t return until the end of January. It makes a long-term future at Liverpool very unlikely.
But that doesn’t mean he’s giving up.
Arthur Melo continues comeback from injury
Arthur posted photos on his Instagram story of his comeback from injury. He’s now doing proper exercise at home as he continues his recovery.
That is a great sign. Arthur appears to be completely on track for a return and we might see him back in the squad before too long.
Though, the midfielder will need to build up his fitness all over again – the injury sent him right back to where he started. There will also be a fierce fight for minutes as Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are back from injury. There’s now Stefan Bajcetic to compete with, too, who scored on Boxing Day.
Arthur is up against it, then. Still, step one is merely making his comeback and that is well underway.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
