Keep up to date with new Barcelona rookie after transfer of £ 35m from Brazilian Gremio
The 21-year-old has signed a six-year contract with the Spanish champions, who have makes room in their team. by sending his compatriot Paulinho to the Chinese bank Guangzhou Evergrande on loan.
So who exactly is Arthur? And what will he bring to Barcelona?
History up to now
Arthur was born in Goiania in central Brazil, where he started at the local club Goias before moving to Gremio in the city of Porto Alegre in 2010. He shone in his youth ranks, with former Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari giving him his senior debut in February 2015.
Arthur helped Gremio to win the Copa do Brasil in 2016 but this n & # It is that this year that he becomes a key player. He won the Best Newcomer Award from Brasileirao and earned a spot in the official team of the year while he was finishing fourth, and he was even better in the Copa Libertadores, playing a leading role until he was ankle injury Gremio was beaten 1-0 by Real Madrid in the final, but the Brazilian international did not have to wait long to hit the big stage. If all goes well in Barcelona, it will not be long before a first senior international call follows him
Pbad master
Arthur is a playmaker well known for his high level of technical quality and his excellent overtaking. aptitude. His 93.1% success rate was the best of last season at Brasileirao, and he also made more pbades in 90 minutes (82.2) than any other player.
Statistics show that he was even more influential in the first half of the season. season. In seven participations in Gremio before moving to Barcelona, Arthur averaged 92.2 pbades per 90 minutes, completing 94.8% of them.
His style of play and his stature – he stands at 8 feet only – have made comparisons with Andres Iniesta and Thiago Alcantara So it's no surprise that Barcelona considers him a good midfielder.
Arthur does not score many goals or even many mentions of He's helping out, but he's strong on the ball and his flawless play is priceless for Gremio to play and it could be the same in Barcelona. "Rather than being a player who dominates the headlines himself, Arthur is the type who offers a platform to his teammates to shine.
How will he adapt to Barcelona? [19659009] no matter who except Arthur is well equipped to cope. In addition to being comfortable, he already has the habit of playing for a side that dominates the ball. This season at Brasileirao, Gremio has maintained a 57 percent possession average – just behind Atletico Paranense
Iniesta leaving Camp Nou, Paulinho returning to China and Andre Gomes also linked to a club move, Barcelona will need him to hit the ground running. Ernesto Valverde mainly used Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rajkitic in a central midfield two last season, but Arthur will allow him to change things, perhaps giving Rakitic more license to attack.
Arthur will give more options to Ernesto Valverde midfield
The Brazilian is the most comfortable at the base of the midfield, but he is also versatile. Under Gremio 's current manager, Renato Gaucho, he evolved into more advanced areas and developed his attacking qualities.
"I am a player who likes to have the ball at my feet and organize the game," Arthur said recently. "As a defensive midfielder, I see the ball further, but as a playmaker, Renato forces me to get into the box, reach the goal and try to score, as well as pbad the ball. I think that's where the difference came, I'm trying to go further in the region to feed the attackers. "
That could be good news for Lionel Messi, who had an excellent understanding with Iniesta. If Arthur can get close to replicating this relationship on the ground, Barcelona will be delighted.
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