Liverpool Signs Arthur Melo from Juventus

Arthur Melo is ready to Live(rpool) it up…

Liverpool has signed the 26-year-old Brazilian professional footballer and midfielder from Juventus on a season-long loan deal.

Arthur MeloLiverpool will pay a loan fee of €4.5 million and have the option to make the transfer permanent for a fee of €37.5m, Juventus said in a statement.

“I’m really, really happy to be here wearing this great shirt with this famous badge that represents so much in world football, it’s a dream,” Arthur told Liverpool’s website.

“We talked a lot, and our ideas and visions were a good fit so I’m sure it was the right choice. I’m really happy and highly motivated to continue living my dream on the pitch and giving my all in a Liverpool shirt.”

Arthur’s move to the Premier League side accelerated late on Wednesday after Jordan Henderson was injured in Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Newcastle.

Jurgen Klopp‘s side were already short in midfield for that game with Naby Keita and Thiago Alcantara among those sidelined.

Klopp confirmed earlier in the week that Liverpool were open to signing another midfielder if the right opportunity came up.

Arthur joined Juventus from Barcelona for around €70 million in 2020. He has spent just two seasons at Barcelona, where he made 72 appearances after signing from Gremio.

Alcântara Signs Three-Year Contract Extension with Barcelona

Rafinha Alcântara is staying put…

The 20-year-old Brazilian soccer pro, the brother of Thiago Alcântara, has signed a three-year contract extension with Barcelona.

Rafinha Alcântara

Rafinha had been considering all his options, including a potentia loan move to Celta Vigo.

Luis Enrique, Celta coach and former Barca B boss, was keen to take both the 20-year-old and his teammate Jonathan Dos Santos to Balaidos, while Rafinha’s father, Mazinho, represented the La Liga side from 1996-1999.

However, the younger of the two Alcantaras opted to put pen to paper on a deal to keep him at Barca until 2016 instead, although he has made it clear that there is still a chance he could be representing a different team come next season.

“I am very happy to continue to be attached to the club but I am open to the possibility of going out on loan,” he told the press after signing his new contract. “If I need to do that in order to get minutes then that’s not a problem.”

Rafinha, who has chosen to represent Brazil at the international level, played 36 games for Barca B last season, netting 10 goals.

Alcântara Leads All-Star UEFA European Under-21 Championship Squad

Thiago Alcântara is the leader of the pack at the European Under-21 Championship.

The 22-year-old half-Brazilian soccer player, Spain’s Under-21 captain and reported Manchester United target, has been named player of the tournament for the European Under-21 Championships in Israel.

Thiago Alcântara

Alcântara, a midfielder for Futbol Club Barcelona, was instrumental throughout La Rojita‘s victorious campaign and hit a first half hat-trick in the 4-2 final win against Italy.

A statement on UEFA’s official website read: “As captain of the title winners, Thiago displayed leadership qualities on and off the pitch and, throughout the tournament, was an influential figure in his team’s performance with impressive box-to-box work; exceptional ball control even in the tightest of situations; ability to dictate the tempo of play; intelligent ball-winning based on anticipation rather than tackling; and outstanding playmaking skills based on a wide variety of short and long passing.

“His three goals in the final represented a unique individual achievement and reward for his contributions to his team’s success.”

Thiago is free to leave the Camp Nou this summer if his release clause of €18 million is met and is being trailed by United and their Premier League rivals Chelsea.

He was also named in the 23-man squad of the tournament, alongside 10 of his Spain teammates, including Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, Manchester City and Real Madrid target Isco and Golden Boot winner Alvaro Morata.