Barcelona is close to a swap deal between Arthur Melo and Juventus midfielder Pjanic. However, Barcelona head coach Quique Setien insists that he is unaware of any such possible deal. FC Barcelona is patiently awaiting the nod from Arthur to be part of a swap deal with a Juventus midfielder. Arthur could be lining up alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in Turin next season. Juventus has already shown interest in Arthur. Maurizio Sarri rates the 23-year-old highly.

According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Arthur Melo will likely be part of a swap deal. Miralem Pjanic, Rodrigo Bentancur, or Federico Bernardeschi will possibly be part of the swap deal with Arthur. However, La Gazetta Dello Sport and Tuttosport report that Pjanic is the most likely candidate to be part of the deal.

The biggest obstacle to the deal is Arthur’s approval. The Brazilian has already spoken about his satisfaction in Barcelona. He wants to continue in FC Barcelona. He sees himself in the Blaugrana shirt for many more years. Arthur arrived in Barcelona from Gremio at a fee of €31 million. Fans consider him as the future of Barcelona midfield beside the Dutchman Frenkie De Jong. PSG have also shown their interest in Arthur and wants to include Leandro Paredes in the swap deal. Inter Milan have also given Barcelona the offer to include Arthur in the Lautaro Martinez deal. Inter may reduce the price if it happens.

Quique Setien rubbishes reports of a possible Arthur-Pjanic swap deal

Now, FC Barcelona’s head coach Quique Setien has spoken about this possible swap deal in an interview with Italian newspaper La Gazzetta Dello Sport. He has ruled out the possibility of Artur’s move to Turin.

Setien has praised Arthur Melo and even said that he fits Barcelona’s style of play. He revealed that he has conversations with the directors of the club. He even said that they have not informed him anything about it. “I speak with the directors at the club often and no one has told me anything in that respect,” he said of an Arthur-Pjanic swap deal. 

He also stressed on Arthur’s recent statements that he wants to stay at Barcelona and succeed here. “Among other things, Arthur has already said twice he wants to stay at Barça and I understand him perfectly. In his place, I would think the same. I would not leave a team like this, nor the possibility of playing alongside the best player in the world,” Setien said.

Setien praised Pjanic but refused to comment on the transfer market currently

He even praised Pjanic but refused to comment on the transfer market at this moment. This is rather ironic, as he is the manager of the Spanish champs. The transfer window is just upon us and he should surely know more about the deals by now.

“He is another excellent player, but let me make a more general comment in terms of the moment we’re in: right now it is a risk to speak about the transfer market.”

“(The majority of clubs) will have to readjust their budgets, the damage suffered is enormous and a deep restructuring will be necessary. The big amounts of money paid for players recently will not be possible, at least not in the short-term.”

“In addition, there will be various players that maybe wanted to leave but now will not be able to because there is no money available. I would like to earn more but it will not be possible: if the budgets diminish, the salaries will also have to be adjusted, that is the reality. Football lives in a bubble that has grown dramatically year after year. A month and a half of crisis were enough to bring the economic drama of many clubs to the surface.” he signed off.

If the deal does go through, it could benefit both clubs. The two sides are looking to win the Champions League title in the upcoming campaigns. Barca are the champions of Spain, while Juve have ruled Italy in recent times. With that being said, their main aim now is to dominate Europe. Whether that happens or not, remains to be seen.