Gremio adamant Arthur will only join Barcelona in January

Gremio president Romildo Bolzan Jr has been talking about Arthur’s future once again and this time he sounds adamant the midfielder will not join Barcelona until the winter.

His previous comments had suggested there was a chance Barcelona could bring forward the deal but that does not look the case now.

“There is no new factor that could mean that we have to renegotiate with Barcelona or that we can undo what we have already signed,” he said.

”What we agreed is that Barcelona has the right to carry out the exercise of preference, but once it is executed the player will only go in January.

”A lot of news comes out of Gremio, a lot of things come from Spain, and every moment someone points out something about Barcelona doing this or that it generates a climate of doubt.

”But Gremio has a clear and defined position and there is no new situation that changes it.”

Source | Goal

The news will be a blow to Barcelona with midfield starting to become an issue following Andres Iniesta’s departure and with Carles Alena out for several months with injury.