Arthur Melo's situation is unsustainable in Can Barça. Since the club announced in late June its signing for Juventus, his role in the team has been blurred gradually to disappear completely. His image yawning in the stands of the match against Osasuna and then stretched barefoot as if he were going to take a nap, were the straw that broke the glass in the patience of Quique Setién, who no longer even wanted to defend him when the player excused his presence at LaLiga's last game against Alavés assuring that he had ankle discomfort.
In fact, this Monday a further step has been taken in the open gap between Arthur and the club. And is that the midfielder He was the only player from the first team squad who did not show up at Ciutat Esportiva to undergo the PCR test -The two players from the subsidiary who participated in the final play-off this Sunday in Malaga did not attend either: Iñaki Peña and Ronald Araujo-. Even the Danish striker, Martin Braithwaite, who will not be able to play any Champions League game without being registered, went to the Blaugrana facilities to carry out the relevant tests.
Evidently, this absence confirmed that Arthur perhaps do not train with Barça again, because you have to submit to the previous test protocol before meeting with your teammates. And the player decided to stay in Brazil, while his representatives are already negotiating the termination of his contract. For this reason the club has decided to initiate a disciplinary file that can end in sanction.
A short template
This new scenario clearly opens the doors to a premature departure from the club And don't even get dressed any longer. In this way, Quique Setién will only have three first team midfielders to face the Naples game on August 8 at the Camp Nou: Ivan Rakitic, Sergi Roberto and Frenkie de Jong. It must be remembered that both Sergio Busquets and Arturo Vidal are sanctioned. In any case, it has Riqui Puig, a player who has shown his potential in the final stretch of LaLiga and who will have a first-team record next season.
If Arthur's discharge is confirmed for the remainder of the season, Setién will only have 17 first-team players, since although Braithwaite will not be able to participate either, it will have the reinforcement of Dembélé, who can play the Champions League, although obviously it is very fair for the European event.
In any case, it seems clear that Arthur's last days at Barcelona are having a sad epilogue, which will surely leave both the player and the club and the fans unsatisfied.