Juventus are bracing for the return of midfielder Arthur from his loan spell at Grêmio on June 30th, with the club seeking a permanent solution to avoid a significant financial burden. The Brazilian international has one year remaining on his contract with the Turin side, earning a reported €5 million per year, and represents a €6.5 million liability on the club’s balance sheet.
Arthur joined Grêmio on loan in a bid to regain form, and initial reports suggested a positive impact, with the CIES Football Observatory ranking him as the fourth-best regista for overall ball possession impact among players outside of Europe’s top five leagues until December. However, a series of muscular injuries have seen him miss eight league matches, complicating a potential permanent transfer. Grêmio are interested in retaining Arthur, as is Fluminense, but are limited by financial constraints, unable to offer more than €10 million combined for a transfer fee and wages.
Brazilian clubs are hoping Arthur will agree to a contract termination with Juventus, allowing them to spread the cost of his wages over a longer period. Arthur himself has expressed a desire to remain at Grêmio, stating, “My desire is to stay, but it doesn’t depend only on me. If it depended only on me, I would. It depends on many factors…I’ve done everything possible and I’m doing everything possible.” Juventus, however, are reluctant to register a loss on the player.
Arthur previously suggested he could still have a role to play under Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti, highlighting Spalletti’s preference for an organizing midfielder. He cited the success of players like Pizarro and Lobotka under Spalletti as examples of how he could adapt, but it appears Juventus view him as no longer suited to the demands of European football. Without a suitable resolution, Juventus face financial complications exceeding €11 million. The situation mirrors that of Douglas Luiz, another Brazilian midfielder who has attracted Spalletti’s attention, though Luiz is considered a more viable option for the current squad.
