Atletico Madrid joins the race to sign Juventus outcast.

Atletico Madrid has emerged as the latest club to express interest in Arthur Melo, just days after it appeared that the midfielder would stay with Juventus for the foreseeable future. Before the January transfer market opened, Real Betis was regarded as Arthur’s most serious suitor, but talks with the Spanish club have stopped. Betis had hoped to sign the Brazilian on loan, but the two sides have been unable to reach an agreement, particularly on his wage. Juventus is anxious to offload Arthur’s salaries, but Betis has been unwilling to fund the entire amount, forcing the transaction to stall.

This stalemate in discussions has left the way for other teams, including Atletico Madrid, to enter the hunt for the midfielder. According to Tuttomercatoweb, the La Liga giants want to bolster their squad by adding Arthur to the middle. Atletico Madrid previously attempted to sign Moise Kean from Juventus a year ago, but the deal fell through owing to Kean’s injury. Atletico is now attempting to do business with Juventus again, and this time the agreement could go through as planned.

Atletico Madrid is anticipated to step up their efforts in the coming weeks, and if negotiations continue, Juventus may finally sell Arthur. The 28-year-old has been out of favour at Juventus for much of the last six months, and his lack of playing time at the Allianz Stadium has made a transfer elsewhere necessary for his future. Given his limited position under Juventus boss Thiago Motta, the Brazilian midfielder needs a fresh start abroad to rediscover his form and minutes. With Atletico Madrid actively following Arthur, Juventus may be closer to resolving the continuing issue of his exit. The midfielder’s future could be decided in the coming weeks, and a move to Spain may provide the opportunity he desperately needs to get his career back on track.

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