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Barcelona : Head scout Ariedo Braida confirms Arthur signing

By Chiranjib Ghosh

PORTO ALEGRE, BRAZIL - MAY 14: Arthur of Gremio, battles for the ball against Airton of Botafogo during the match Gremio v Botafogo as part of Brasileirao Series A 2017, at Arena do Gremio on May 14, 2017, in Porto Alegre, Brazil. (Photo by Lucas Uebel/Getty Images)
PORTO ALEGRE, BRAZIL - MAY 14: Arthur of Gremio, battles for the ball against Airton of Botafogo during the match Gremio v Botafogo as part of Brasileirao Series A 2017, at Arena do Gremio on May 14, 2017, in Porto Alegre, Brazil. (Photo by Lucas Uebel/Getty Images) /
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Ariedo Braida has revealed that Barcelona will sign Arthur Melo

LANUS, ARGENTINA – NOVEMBER 29: Arthur of Gremio drives the ball during the second leg match between Lanus and Gremio as part of Copa Bridgestone Libertadores 2017 Final at Ciudad de Lanus Stadium on November 29, 2017 in Lanus, Argentina. (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)
LANUS, ARGENTINA – NOVEMBER 29: Arthur of Gremio drives the ball during the second leg match between Lanus and Gremio as part of Copa Bridgestone Libertadores 2017 Final at Ciudad de Lanus Stadium on November 29, 2017 in Lanus, Argentina. (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images) /

Barcelona’s head international scout has revealed that the club is not targeting Miralem Pjanić to reinforce its midfield, and will, instead exercise the option on 23-year old Brazilian midfielder Arthur Melo 6 months before the agreed date.

"The 71-year old former AC Milan forward said, “There is no negotiation. It does not seem to me that we are interested in the Bosnian playmaker.The player is good, but here we have a Brazilian who will take that role because Barcelona wants that. There are those who take care of the market in Barcelona, ​​but surely I know the strategies of the club and Pjanic does not fit in.”"

Now that Arthur’s arrival has been confirmed by a top club official, the question is – In what role will he play? Arthur has been known to play as a proper central playmaker, but he will need to adapt to European conditions if he is to succeed, and that will include changes in his style.

Currently, the left and right sides of central midfield are well covered, with Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembélé, Denis Suárez, Rafinha and Aleix Vidal. But there are only three out-and-out central midfielders in the squad.

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While Ivan Rakitić and Paulinho are competing for the same spot, Sergio Busquets has had neither backup nor competition. Now, Arthur might be the player to provide Busquets with some rest, while adding a new dimension to Barça.

The club has struggled to find a proper successor to legend Xavi, who captained the team to many La Liga and Champions League titles. He, along with Andrea Pirlo, was the definition of a modern midfielder, in the role of the regista.

It is hard to find proper registas these days, with midfielders being moulded into either playmakers or box-to-box midfielders at an early stage of their career. But Arthur could the player to fulfill that role in the squad.

The regista is a traditional deep-lying playmaker who marks attacking midfielder and forwards to like to stay deep. But his most effective and important skill is the ability to spread play to the wide areas of the pitch, to either overlapping full-backs or wingers.

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If Ernesto Valverde allows him some time to adapt to this role, Arthur has the ability to deliver. Of course, it would be impossible to match Xavi, who was arguably the greatest midfielder of his generation, but anything close to the legend would be good for the club.

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