The transfer saga surrounding Arthur Melo has taken an unexpected turn. What seemed to be a straightforward loan move from Juventus to Real Betis has hit a snag, with Roma now emerging as a potential destination for the Brazilian midfielder.
Initially, Juventus had shown willingness to loan Arthur to Betis with an option to buy. However, negotiations stumbled over the player’s wages. Arthur currently earns €5 million per year, which translates to approximately €2.5 million net for the remaining six months of the 2024-25 season. This figure proved too steep for Betis, leading to a disagreement over how to split the salary burden.
Tuttoport report that while Juventus insisted that Betis should cover Arthur’s entire wage, the Spanish club sought financial assistance from the Italian side. This impasse has prompted Betis to shift their focus to another Serie A outcast, Enzo Le Fee of Roma, whose salary is reportedly half that of Arthur’s.
In a domino effect, Roma’s potential departure of Le Fee to Betis has reignited their interest in Arthur. The Giallorossi had previously considered the Brazilian last summer and may now view him as a viable option to bolster their midfield, especially given the injuries to Cristante and uncertainties surrounding Paredes.
Juventus, eager to offload Arthur’s wages even temporarily, would likely approve a move to Roma. However, the salary division remains a sticking point. The Turin club hopes this opportunity could revitalize the career of the 28-year-old, who showed promise during his loan spell at Fiorentina last season with two goals and four assists in 48 appearances.
For any permanent transfer, Juventus might accept a purchase option around €10 million, aligning with Arthur’s current amortized value. This figure is significantly lower than the €72 million valuation from his 2020 transfer involving Pjanic and Barcelona, reflecting the midfielder’s career trajectory.
Arthur’s situation at Juventus has become untenable. He hasn’t played a single minute this season and trains separately from the squad. Manager Thiago Motta has made it clear that Arthur doesn’t feature in his plans, despite being registered for bureaucratic reasons.
