BARCELONA confirmed that Brazil international Arthur agreed to join Juventus in a direct swap deal, while the Spanish champions will sign Miralem Pjanic the other way. According to an official statement released Monday, Barcelona paid 60 million euros (US$67.4 million) for Pjanic, with the possibility of another 5 million euros in bonuses. The Bosnian star will stay with Juve until the end of the season before joining Barca on a four-year contract with a buyout clause of 400 million euros. Juventus, meanwhile, paid 72 million euros for Arthur, which could rise to 82 million euros with bonuses. He signed a five-year deal with the Italian powerhouse and will also remain with Barcelona until the end of the campaign. Arthur’s move to Juventus comes on the same day that club stalwarts Gianluigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini signed new one-year deals to remain in Turin. “There are players who need no introduction,” Juventus said via its official website. “Champions whose story speaks for itself, and whose connection with the shirt they wear is indissoluble. Examples on the pitch and in the locker room, leaders, driving forces, bearers of the Bianconeri DNA, who wear it as a second skin.” “Gianluigi Buffon. Giorgio Chiellini. Captains, legends. Bianconeri since the beginning. Bianconeri forever. And to confirm it, in case there is a need, today their contract renewals have become official, for another: 2021!” the club added. Barca is getting blasted for the swap deal and that’s an easy argument to make given Arthur’s status as one of the club’s more consistent performers. Messi remains the best creator in the world if not flat-out best player but his window has to be closing despite his seemingly immortal skills. It’s unlikely that he’ll fall off a cliff next season, but he needs some help. Pjanic can simultaneously mentor Frenkie de Jong and combine with the young Dutchman to produce a metronomic midfield and allow Barca’s creators up top to do their thing. (SD-Agencies) |