Of the two Catalan sport newspapers, Mundo Deportivo and Sport, the former believes there’s some doubt over Arthur’s move to Barcelona and the latter thinks it’s nailed on.
Barcelona have already paid Gremio a €4m deposit for the player and are due to pay another €26m to complete the flat fee, plus a further €9m in potential bonuses.
Mundo Deportivo believe there’s a chance Barcelona could back out and lose the €4m, because they’re concerned Arthur, at 1.72m, may not have the physicality they’re looking for in midfield.
Xavi, at 1.68m, and Andres Iniesta, at 1.71m, didn’t have a problem with that, and Sport now carry comments from Brazilian legend Zico hinting Arthur will be a replacement for the latter.
Zico has said: “He has football to be the substitute for Iniesta.”Sport believe that’s not a coincidence, and that Barcelona have pinpointed the player for exactly such a role.
It’s stated the player will arrive in January 2019, unless the Catalan club want to bring him earlier and force through a summer move.
