Arthur in Brazil and tells Barcelona he will not return for Champions League

Standard Sport understands Barca will take disciplinary action against the midfielder,
Arthur did not have permission to return to Brazil
Getty Images
Ben Hayward27 July 2020

Barcelona midfielder Arthur Melo is back in Brazil and has told the Catalan club he has no intention of returning for the Champions League.

Arthur will join Juventus this summer in a €72million (£65.7m) deal, with Miralem Pjanic moving in the other direction, in a transfer 'swap' agreement announced at the end of last month.

The Brazilian had not wanted to leave Barcelona, but said in a tweet that he would continue to be professional and help the team secure their objectives for the remainder of the campaign.

However, he has not played a single minute since the move was announced and was out with a mystery ankle problem at the end of the club's LaLiga season.

The 23-year-old failed to report back after a few days off and was not present for coronavirus testing at Barcelona's training ground on Monday.

Arthur did not have permission to return to Brazil and Standard Sport understands Barca will take disciplinary action against the midfielder, who was expected back to prepare for the club's Champions League last-16 second leg against Napoli on August 8.

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