When Arthur Melo signed for Liverpool last year, it’s not too unfair to say there wasn’t a great deal of excitement in the club’s fanbase.
The Brazilian’s star had faded after he was very highly rated earlier on in his career. Barcelona had fought to get him from Gremio, and may have used questionable tactics to do so, and then used him in a complicated financial transaction with Juventus.
Arthur was in something of a whirlwind when he arrived at the Turin club and things didn’t go his way, with them repeatedly keen to send him elsewhere. Liverpool provided a loan option, and ended up being another negative part of the Brazilian’s career.
Unfortunately, the midfielder failed to make a single Premier League appearance for Liverpool, with his time at the club severely impacted by fitness issues.
“Now I look back and get something productive out of the injury. I started to work on the mental part, nutrition, rest and sleep.”
Asked what Jurgen Klopp is like, Arthur had nothing but praise for the manager and the Reds generally: “Liverpool has surprised me a lot. The fans are incredible, but within the club everything has Klopp’s face. He is a family. There is always someone who wants to help others, from the first worker to the president. Klopp as a coach is fantastic and how he manages the team is impressive.”
Things look to be going better for Arthur, who is now on loan at Fiorentina, this season. He’s already made six appearances for La Viola, four of those coming in Serie A.
