Juventus loanee Arthur Melo confirms he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season: ‘Hopefully I have an option to say goodbye.’
The Brazilian midfielder moved to Anfield last summer on an initial loan deal with an option to buy. Having spent considerable time on the treatment table, Liverpool will not sign him permanently, so Arthur will return to Juventus in the summer.
“The fact of being able to train with someone like him always gives you a lot as a player and I’m sure it’s useful for what’s to come because you learn a lot from him,” he told Goal.com.
“Now that I’m recovered, I would obviously like to be able to play more, but I can understand that the situation now is different from what happened when I arrived because at that time the team had some needs and now it has others, but I have the peace of mind that when I talk to them and they tell me that no one has any complaints with me, quite the opposite.
“I have two years left at Juventus,” continued the midfielder. “I still haven’t spoken about it with my agent, family, or Juventus. I’ll be back because I have two years left; there is mutual respect between us.”
However, Arthur is not expected to be in Massimiliano Allegri’s plans in 2023-24, just like this season, so the midfielder seems to be already looking for an escape route from Turin.
“La Liga is attractive and I could give myself another chance there. I know the league and I adapted well. If there is a team that gambles on ball possession, it’s ok for me.
“Next season I see it with good eyes. It will be decisive in my career and I am working very well. I’m looking forward to showing this new version of Arthur. Hopefully, I have an option to say goodbye in Liverpool by playing something, to say goodbye to my team-mates, the technical committee and the fans, who have been very good to me.”
The 26-year-old has only made four appearances across all competitions this term, but none in the Premier League.
He underwent ankle surgery in October, remaining out of action until the end of February. However, he’s been impressed by the Reds and their coach Jurgen Klopp.
“Since I arrived, [Jurgen] Klopp has treated me really well. It is an honour for me to work with Jurgen. He is one of the best coaches in the world, he has always spoken well of me, he is someone incredible and the treatment has always been really good, elegant and special.
“Also all of Liverpool in general, they have treated me great and I only have good words for them and a very special affection.”
Arthur played with Neymar and Leo Messi at Barcelona and spent a year with Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus and gave an insight into what the trio has in common.
“They have a winning mentality. Whether it’s a training session, a friendly or a Final, the three always go out to kill. Even if they play against their mother, they don’t care,” he said.
“Their mentality is tremendous. Neymar is skilled, he feints, he dribbles… Cristiano scores a goal wherever he is, he scores a goal wherever he goes, because he has incredible ability… And Messi, well, Messi is an ET. An alien. One thing out of the ordinary. I had the opportunity to play with all three and see them up close. Each one with their characteristics, some dribble more or finish better, but I prefer their mentality. All three are out of the ordinary in that regard.”
Arthur joined Juventus in the summer of 2020 for €76m from Barcelona while Miralem Pjanic moved to Camp Nou from Turin in a €60m transfer.
The Brazilian has played 63 games with the Bianconeri, scoring one goal and winning a Serie A title. His contract at the Allianz Stadium expires in June 2025.