Manchester United have reportedly been dealt a blow in their transfer plans as Barcelona have sent representatives to Brazil to secure a deal for Gremio star Arthur Melo. The 21-year-old has reportedly agreed to make a move to the Camp Nou during the summer of 2019 but the Catalan giants still need to agree on a fee with the Brazilian club.
Arthur is under contract with Gremio until the summer of 2021, though the club only owns 60% of his economic rights and Celso Rigo own 20% with his family and parents owning the other 20%. Arthur has a release clause of €50million but Barcelona have initially offered a fee in the region of €25million.
It is unlikely that Gremio will be willing to let the player go for anything less than €30million in order to let go of their 60% rights. Gremio president Romildo Bolzan said to Brazilian media that a deal has not been reached as yet with Barcelona but added that steps have been taken to make a deal possible.
“Talks are ongoing and some progresses have been made. Arthur will play for us for a few more months but right now there is no agreement [between Gremio and Barcelona] yet,” Bolzan said.
Gremio’s executive sporting director Andre Zanotta also confirmed that both clubs have been negotiating for some time.
“There has been a formal contact and we’re going to continue the conversations, as we have our conditions. I do not want to give more details, it’s a conversation that has just started and it’s still going to drag on.” Zanotta added in an interview with UOL Esporte.
Melo has appeared 27 times for his club in the Brasileirao and was voted man of the match in the recent the Copa Libertadores final which is the South American equivalent of the Champions League as Gremio went on to defeat Lanus 2-1.
The young Melo certainly looks like he has the potential to succeed. With Andries Iniesta coming to the end of his career, Ernesto Valverde’s side needs to start preparing for the future and Melo will not be a bad option. He’d have been a good option for us too but let’s hope that we pursue other targets instead.
