Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hopes Arthur Melo will be available to face Napoli in the Champions League. ‘It didn’t work out 100 per cent at Juventus, but the potential is there. We play different to Juve.’
The midfielder made the transfer on deadline day and the details released by Juventus were significantly different to the ones originally thought.
It was believed to be a dry loan, but instead the Bianconeri announced Liverpool have paid €4.5m for the one-season spell, with an option to buy for a further €37.5m.
He flew in yesterday for a medical and today Klopp explained in a press conference the international clearance won’t come in time for the Brazilian to play against Everton.
“My information is that it won’t happen until tomorrow. We all hope it will be fine for Napoli,” said the tactician.
“I’m really happy about this transfer. What does he bring? He’s a really good footballer. A very exciting career already and still pretty young. He’s coming into the best age for a footballer.
“He gives rhythm, he’s a really good passer, speed with the ball, safe with the ball, really good in tight areas. I like it a lot.”
Juventus had been so eager to get Arthur off their books that earlier in the summer they were prepared to loan him for free to Valencia, paying half his salary.
Considering how little impact he made under Max Allegri and predecessor Andrea Pirlo, what do Liverpool and Klopp see in him?
“Why can you loan a player like this? Because it didn’t work out 100 per cent at Juventus. But I see that rather as a positive because the potential is for sure still there. We play different to Juve. We all thought he could fit pretty well so I’m really pleased.”
The 26-year-old made only 63 competitive appearances for Juventus, contributing one goal and one assist.
On their official statement, Juve noted he had a 92.9% pass completion rate, but critics would point out that’s because he largely made only sideways and backwards passes.
No kidding. One club is part of European royalty and the other is the Chicago Cubs of Europe, playing 1600 BC Calcio Champagne, by a hexagon system called PhD Max.
allegri is shaming us across Europe right now, but still by far the best pedigree in Italy.
Feel free to drop 35 mill in our accounts then if you like him that much already
Because Liverpool play football!
He’s actually a very different player when played further up the pitch closer to goal instead of deep in his own half where PhD likes to be.
And Barca didn’t play football?
I don’t like Arthur at all. Happy to see him leave.