Fabio Aurelio feels Arthur Melo brings to the table similar values as Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara
Liverpool have been told by Fabio Aurelio that they have another Thiago Alcantara in their midst in the form of Arthur Melo. The ex-Reds left-back feels his compatriot has similar attributes to that of the Spanish midfielder.
Arthur joined Liverpool on loan from Juventus in the recent transfer window. The Merseysiders were seemingly desperate for a midfielder this summer, considering the injuries. And the Brazilian arrived in a surprising move for fans on deadline day.
Writing about Arthur on the club website (h/t Express), Aurelio, who spent six seasons as a Liverpool player, suggested that the 26-year-old’s style of play resembles what Thiago does for the Merseysiders.
“I believe Arthur Melo is an interesting addition to this Liverpool squad.
“From what I know about him, he should fit really well in Liverpool’s system. He’s a player that likes to constantly be in the game, touching the ball, controlling the pace of play, liking to be dynamic – similar to what Thiago likes to do in a sense.”
Arthur has played for some of the biggest teams in Europe. The 26-year-old joined Barcelona in the summer of 2018 and showed glimpses of his talent. However, he was shipped off to Italy after a couple of seasons in Spain.
At Juventus, the Brazilian mostly played a bit-part role. Arthur was not the first name on the team sheet for the Old Lady. And injuries troubled him in his time at the club.
With the apparent crisis in the middle of the park for Jurgen Klopp to deal with, Arthur was brought in. However, the 26-year-old has not played much since his arrival.
He came off the bench in the 4-1 defeat to Napoli in the Champions League. Arthur also recently featured for the reserve side, playing 90 minutes for the U21 team.
As for Thiago, he returned to action against Ajax in the UCL following a period on the sidelines. The Spaniard is integral to the team and brings much-needed quality to the engine room.
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However, fitness issues have plagued the 31-year-old’s time on the pitch over the last few campaigns. Thus, it seems essential for Liverpool to have someone in the wings to replace Thiago when needed. Hopefully, Arthur lives up to the expectations.