He was a fiasco with Liverpool and now Arthur shines in his new team

The name of Arthur Melo resonated strongly in the surroundings of FC Barcelona during the past season, generating expectations of his possible return to the culé club. The reason behind this possibility was the search for players with a good touch on the ball and the ability to adapt quickly by the then coach, Xavi Hernández. Franck Kessié's initial problems had set off alarm bells in the team. With the winter market just around the corner, the opportunity to sign the Brazilian, owned by Juventus Turin, presented itself as long as Liverpool was willing to do without his services during his loan.

The return of the Brazilian midfielder was put on the Barça table as an emergency measure in the last winter market. With the winter market just around the corner, the opportunity to sign the Brazilian, owned by Juventus Turin, presented itself as long as Liverpool was willing to do without his services during his loan.

However, Arthur's chances of returning began to fade after a crucial conversation between Xavi and then-captain Sergio Busquets, as detailed on Catalunya Ràdio's 'Barça Confidencial' podcast. Busquets did not question the midfielder's football skills, but emphasized the off-sports problems that Arthur experienced during his first spell in Barcelona. He warned of the risk that his presence could have a negative impact on a dressing room that had numerous young players.

Arthur was close to returning

Although Busquets' words had their weight, they were not the main reason behind the technical office's final decision to rule out the signing of Arthur Melo in the middle of the season. At the end of October, the Brazilian suffered a serious injury that required surgery, which led Barcelona to understand that the player would need between four and five months to recover and return to the playing field. This situation made the option of Arthur Melo's return totally unfeasible at that time.