Opinion: Barcelona’s £72.5m sale of Brazilian star simply doesn’t make sense and here’s why

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Why Barcelona swapping Arthur for Miralem Pjanic is not a great idea

According to BBC, Juventus have signed Barcelona midfield star Arthur for a fee of £72.5m, with the Catalan giants signing Miralem Pjanic in return for a fee of £54.9m plus £4.6m in add-ons.

Arthur, 23, joined Barcelona in the beginning of the 2018/19 season and has made just over 50 appearances for the side in two years.

The Brazilian midfielder has so far scored 3 goals and 4 assists for the side this season and has established himself in the team.

The Brazilian’s impressive displays at Gremio had also earned him a place in the national side. The player has shown great character over the years.

Arthur Melo (R) duels for the ball with Real Betis' Nabil fekir (Getty Images)
Arthur Melo (R) duels for the ball with Real Betis’ Nabil fekir (Getty Images)

Are Barcelona right in selling Arthur?

The Brazil international has been playing in defensive midfield and his performances so far have been impressive.

Barcelona might not be right in selling Arthur as the player has put up good performances and they already have limited options, especially with Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic ageing. Moreover, Miralem Pjanic, the new arrival, is 30 years old while Arthur is only 23.

The Catalan giants are further uncertain about Arturo Vidal, with the player linked with a move away from Camp Nou. Therefore, it would have been better for Barcelona to avoid the temptations of a great offer and keep Arthur at Nou Camp.

The player has, in his little time at the club, caught the attention of fans and others with his ability and execution. Arthur could have truly become a great player had Barcelona decided to keep hold of the player, but now Arthur is on his way to Juventus.

Miralem Pjanic has established himself as one of the best midfielders in Europe (Getty Images)
Miralem Pjanic has established himself as one of the best midfielders in Europe (Getty Images)

Arthur is an amazing talent that Barcelona shouldn’t have let go. The player has shown a lot of maturity and is bound to get better. The player could have developed into a world-class player with time and with a future ahead of him, Barcelona should have held onto the player.

By selling the player, Barcelona have not just sold a key figure but also a highly-promising young prospect.

Though Pjanic is a top-class midfielder, Arthur is really young and it would have been wise of Barcelona to keep hold of the Brazilian. The move simply doesn’t make sense and it remains to be seen how it pans out in the near future.