Barcelona’s questionable decision to sell Arthur for Miralem Pjanic

Barcelona’s strange decision to swap Miralem Pjanic for Arthur.

Barcelona signed Juventus veteran Miralem Pjanic in the summer of 2020 and he was noted as one of the biggest transfers of the summer. In exchange, the Blaugrana had let go of Brazilian midfielder Arthur Melo as he was sold for over 70 million euros. The Brazilian was an absolute gem and Barcelona may be beginning to feel his absence as the former Juventus midfielder has not exactly been a signing that the Catalans expected him to be.

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For starters, this signing did not even take place under Ronald Koeman. The deal for Pjanic was wrapped before the arrival of the former Southampton manager. Hence, it does not look like he is in the Dutchman’s plans at the Nou Camp despite running a double pivot system.

The Bosnian international has played regularly in the UEFA Champions League for Barcelona this season. He has played all the games so far averaging a total of 160 minutes (before the clash against Ferencvárosi TC). He has been decent for the Blaugrana. However, the Catalans reportedly regret selling a gem of a talent in the Brazilian Arthur Melo who is currently enjoying his time at Turin playing for the Italian Champions.

The ex-Juve midfielder is not getting enough minutes as a starter should be getting. Obviously, the midfielder was signed at that hefty fee in order to have a major role in the Barca squad. However, he has already expressed his views on this matter multiple times and he does not seem happy or satisfied with the current time he’s getting on the pitch under Koeman.

With both Sergio Busquets and Frenkie de Jong occupying the two pivot roles available, along with Carles Alena also hoping to get regular minutes, it doesn’t look like the 30-year-old Bosnian is going to be a key part of Koeman’s plan. If that is the case, then the 60 million euro investment in the player was yet another failed transfer made by the former management lead by the former president, Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Should Pjanic be getting more playtime under Koeman?