Few players in recent Serie A history have had their careers derailed as dramatically by a transfer as Juventus’ Arthur Melo.
The Brazilian arrived from Barcelona to Juventus amid much fanfare in 2020, but spent five frustrating years in Turin with little of the grace that made him one of Europe’s most coveted midfielders.
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Now on loan at boyhood club Gremio, the Brazilian looks reborn as he aims to convince Luciano Spalletti to give him one last chance at the Allianz Arena.
His numbers since returning to Brazil have been astounding.
In 2026 alone, he made 11 appearances, scored one goal, completed 95% of his passes, and helped Gremio win the Rio Grande do Sul Gaucho state championship.
The only blemish was a minor muscle injury sustained in the final against Internacional.
UDINE, ITALY – MARCH 14: Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti reacts during the Serie A match between Udinese FC and Juventus FC at Estadio Friuli on March 14, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
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Juventus outcast Arthur aims to convince boss Luciano Spalletti
His self-assessment is typically bold, as quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Luciano likes to be an organized midfielder, the fulcrum of the team, and I like that role,” he said. “Both Pizarro and Lobotka thrived under Spalletti with possession-based, tactically intelligent football. It’s not ridiculous to think I’ll adapt well. We’ll see.”
Arthur had a rough time in Turin, which he felt thoughtful rather than bitter about.
“There were a lot of changes in my transition to the club and that probably affected everyone, including me,” he said. “I regret not being able to show at Juventus what I did at Gremio. But I learned a lot in Italy.”
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He is equally philosophical about leaving Barcelona.
“It left a bittersweet taste and I was happy there. But Juventus allowed me to discover another culture and allowed me to grow as a man, even in difficulty. These were lessons I would have probably never learned while staying in my comfort zone.”
Arthur also expressed his hope of being called up for the World Cup in Brazil under Ancelotti, and took the opportunity to recommend two young players from the Gremio team, 18-year-old defender Luis Guedes and 17-year-old winger Gabriel Maker, as future stars worthy of attention.
Playing alongside Messi and Ronaldo, his judgment was quite poetic. “Leo is magical. Cristiano is work, hunger, ambition: a winning mentality that drives everyone around him. I am honored to play with these two men.”