“With Xavi, Barça has returned”

Arthur Melo visited the SPORT newsroom to talk about Barça and his career

“I would love for Xavi to train me one day”, highlighted the Catalan coach

Arthur Melo does not forget Barcelona, ​​a city he visits whenever he can. He played two years at Barça and had to leave for financial reasons (exchange with Pjanic) to Juventus. He spoke about all of this during a recent visit to the SPORT newsroom in which he proved to be up to date with everything that is going on at Barça. After overcoming an injury, he assures that next season he will recover his best football.

Hello Arthur. In what language do we do the interview?

If you fly we can see it in català.

He left Barça years ago…

I learned it by watching the series ‘Merlí’ and I like it a lot.

Well, let’s combine. The injury is forgotten and back to Italy. At what point in your career are you?

In my best moment. I am already very well physically and mentally well for this new season, which is very important to me and I am looking forward to it starting now.

His time at Liverpool was not as expected due to his latest injury.

Yes, but both Klopp and my teammates helped me a lot in a difficult moment and that’s what I take with me. And in the Premier League the first word that comes to mind is intensity, incredible, and I was lucky to be there. It is what marked me the most when I arrived.

It all adds up. He is 26 years old and has his whole life ahead of him.

I have learned a lot from the past. I think I had difficult moments, but I was able to make the best of them. I see myself more mature, more prepared, better physically than ever. I have worked on the mental part, which is also very important. I think it is my best moment, with more experience, more mature, better physically, better mentally. I want to return to my maximum level and I know that I can do it. My head is very focused and I really want to achieve all my goals.

Enjoy soccer? Have you enjoyed so far?

I have enjoyed it, but I think I can enjoy it much more, reach a much higher level. I’m ready.

He arrived in Barcelona at the age of 21. Too young for such a big club?

Yes Yes Yes. I had to learn a lot and very quickly. I had to learn another culture, another language, another way of playing football, another visibility by the press…

It must not be easy.

It was all very new to me. The adaptation was a bit complicated, but I was also very lucky to have a wardrobe that helped me a lot and, deep down, that was my dream, I was fulfilling it. _

Would you do something different?

Well, I have good memories of here. And everything has helped me learn.

Xavi, with whom he has always been compared, praised him a lot. Like Messi, who he said was the one who surprised him the most of all the signings.

It was my father who told me what Leo said, I was in my room. I thought he was joking. And I had just arrived at Barça. It was a very beautiful moment for me. Later, in the locker room, I spoke to him in person and thanked him.

Did Barça lack patience with you?

I think so because he came very young, barely 21 years old. Y_I had to leave when I was going for my third season, that is, when I was more used to it.

Was it your year?

I felt better every day with the style of play, more comfortable, without so much pressure, more mature, with more experience. I had that as my season to take a leap in my career. But in football you know, my plans changed and I went to Juventus. Yeah, I think, for sure, the third season could be the one that marks a leap.

It was an economic issue, not a sports one.

Yes, yes, yes, I guess so, but well, I have very good memories.

The best?

Winning a classic here against Madrid, because of the result, because of my game… Winning the League… But there was a very nice moment in the Super Cup, which was the year I arrived, my first game, we won it and it was my birthday.

Have you had any option to return to Barça?

I don’t know, they didn’t speak to me directly.

If Xavi asked him?

I love it as a coach, it’s been an incredible job. He has recovered the image of Barcelona, ​​he knows what the Catalans like. The beautiful game, possession, aggressiveness. I admired him as a player and I admire him as a coach. I didn’t have the opportunity to play with him, but as a coach I would love to.

Do you see Barça fighting for the Champions League?

You are in good hands. I see the team very structured. Xavi has shown that they have succeeded with him, Barça is showing its face again. They just won the League and they have very good players, a mix of young players with others with more experience, the perfect mix.

You have a contract with Juve until 2025. Where do you see yourself in a few years?

Sure, everyone has plans, successes with the team, with the Brazilian team… But I’m more focused on the short term.

And that happens because…

Work, eat well… I’m really looking forward to enjoying football and reaching my highest level again. That happens in the short term.

Already.

I miss playing football, big games, going back to the Seleçao.

Together with Vitor Roque, signed by Barça.

He is very young, but very good. He has shown that he has a high level and, being so young, he already has the personality of a great player.

Better than Endrick?

He is still very young and has already signed for a great team. And of course, the press watches you more. There’s a lot of pressure and maybe at that age he doesn’t absorb himself so well. But he is a great player, he has shown it. That is why he is in a great team in Brazil and has just signed for another great team. I really like how he plays, he has a lot of personality and he smells the goal.

Raphinha, in her first year, has achieved great numbers.

It is that to be an extreme they are very good figures. Honestly I saw it very well. In the end, football is also results, they are numbers, but the first season is always the most complicated and he has done well. It has everything to make the second one even better. I hope so. He’s a great player and I’m sure he’s doing well.

Allow me a question: you are very close to Neymar. Did he offer himself to Barça?

(Laughs) He didn’t tell me. I know that he likes Barça a lot. He has a lot of passion for Barça, for how they have always treated him, for his moments on the field, for the city. But if he has offered himself to Barça I don’t know.