Arthur at Juventus: Pirlo's complaints, misunderstood & his South American enclave

Despite exciting Barcelona fans at certain stages of his time with the club, with comparisons to Xavi Hernandez at one point, Arthur Melo never quite went to the next level. He left Barça through the back door after almost being forced to leave for Juventus as part of a swap deal which saw Miralem Pjanic go the other way. 

Barça devoured him. Barcelona devoured him. His final months in the city were filled with acts of indiscipline. Juve managed to use Pjanic until the very end, while Arthur drifted out of contention at Barça once the transfer was announced. 

Arthur arrived in Turin for a fresh start. A new city and a new environment. From the Mediterranean to the calm of Italy's north. A new style of play. New demands. He hasn't played for a while, but he can't have expected such an icy welcome. In Turin, ahead of Wednesday's Champions League game between Barça and Juve, SPORT spoke with various local journalists about Arthur's adaption. We take a look a look at his arrival in Italy, where he's only played five games -- starting just twice. In fact, Sunday's game against Hellas Verona was the first time he completed 90 minutes. 

The Brazilian's struggling to adapt to the rhythm of calcio. Not just that, nut coach Andrea Pirlo has even criticised him. "He doesn't look forward enough. He still takes too many touches when at certain moments he could be quicker." It's been tough for Arthur who hasn't played in the big games (for example against Roma or in the Champions League, yet). "It's not that the relationship is bad," one journalist explains. "I think Pirlo counts on him and it's possible that he ends up playing regularly." 

On the other side of the coin. Arthur's made friends with the South Americans at the club. His compatriots Danilo and Alex Sandro (who are Brazil teammates) and Cuadrado and Bentancur have been a big help. If the rumours of Arthur's lust for the nightlife in Barcelona were constant, in Turin it's completely different. With the Covid restrictions, the quarantine Juve experienced (two weeks in a hotel bubble at one point) and the calmness of Turin, Arthur may find it easier to focus. 

For now, Pirlo has warned him that he's not in the necessary shape and needs to adapt to Italian football, play more vertically and less horizontally...