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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Connor O'Neill

Arthur Melo makes 'difficult' Liverpool admission and sends message to Jurgen Klopp

Arthur Melo has thanked Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool's players for helping him through a "difficult moment" during his time at Anfield.

Arthur arrived on loan from Juventus on deadline day last summer after injuries Klopp’s squad short on options. Liverpool paid a loan fee of £4m and had the option to buy the Brazil international for about £33m.

However, Arthur only played a mere 13 minutes as a substitute during the Reds' 4-1 defeat away to Napoli in the Champions League group stages, with his only starts coming for the club's under-21 side. In need of game time, he was allowed to feature in the Premier League 2 and later the Papa Johns Trophy.

Surgery in October meant that the 26-year-old was sidelined for four months. And now, reflecting on his time on Merseyside, Arthur has opened up about how mentally tough it was for him to be forced to watch on from the sidelines.

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"I think I was a bit unlucky, but that is in the past, and I feel much better than then," he told Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo. "I really want to play again and seek my highest level as a player."

Before he added: "I went through difficult times, but it was very important for me to have the support of everyone, from the coach, Klopp, and the entire coaching staff, to my team-mates.

"The dressing room helped me a lot in a difficult moment. I think I've learned a lot. When you leave your comfort zone, you learn even more. You have to evolve in some way, and the injury has helped me to do so."

Reflecting on his time in England, Arthur said, "I have learned a lot. In Italy, I learned a lot tactically and I also improved physically. And in England, the intensity is incredible; the game doesn't stop for a second."

Arthur, who spent two seasons at Barcelona before moving to Serie A, still has two years remaining on his contract at Juventus. But he admits he is unsure what the future holds.

He said: "In principle, I will return to Turin, but the transfer window is very long, and we don't know what will happen.

"Something interesting may come up for me and for Juventus. I have a contract, and I respect it, but we'll see."

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