Fabio Capello confessed he has never been very impressed by Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo, even at Barcelona. ‘He looks like he’s playing rugby.’
The Bianconeri host Villarreal in the Champions League Round of 16 this evening, having drawn 1-1 in Spain.
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Capello is a pundit on Sky Sport Italia and was commenting ahead of kick-off at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin.
“Juventus need to be wary of Villarreal on the counter-attack, but above all not to get irritated with their ability to keep the ball for long periods, as that is where the Spanish sides make it difficult for the Italians,” said the former Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid boss.
“Juve have improved, they are quicker now at passing the ball around and Arthur is doing better, even if I never did like him.
“Whatever you do, don’t ask Arthur for a long pass. He looks like he’s playing rugby, but he does that well.”
In rugby, you are not allowed to pass the ball forward, only sideways or backwards, which is precisely what Juventus fans have mocked former Barcelona midfielder Arthur for doing.
Capello: “Arthur non mi è mai piaciuto ma è cresciuto. Sembra giochi a rugby, ma lo fa bene” https://t.co/u4NXCL4USi
— TUTTOmercatoWEB (@TuttoMercatoWeb) March 16, 2022
Juve’s 65m euro man.
And some say Bartomeu was crazy to exchange him with pjanic