Juventus player Miralem Pjanic kicks the ball during a training session on May 18 in Turin, Italy. Photo: VCG

 

Barcelona midfielder Arthur Melo will join Juventus at the end of the current season, with Miralem Pjanic moving in the opposite direction, the two clubs announced Monday.

Barcelona said they had paid 60 million euros ($67.4 million) plus a potential 5 million euros more in bonuses for Bosnian playmaker Pjanic after earlier confirming Juventus would pay 72 million euros plus 10 million in variables for Arthur.

The two deals have gone through separately, allowing both clubs to boost their profit figures ahead of the end of the financial year on June 30.

Pjanic's four-year contract includes a release clause of 400 million euros while Juventus said Arthur's contract will run for five years, until June 2025.

Arthur and Pjanic will remain with their current teams until the end of the 2019-20 campaign, which will include the latter stages of the Champions League in August.

It raises the possibility that Arthur and Pjanic could yet face each other, and their future clubs, in the Champions League final eight in Portugal, should both sides win their outstanding last-16, second-­leg matches.

In a statement, Juventus said they had signed Arthur for "72 million euros payable in four years. The purchase value may increase by a maximum of 10 million euros on the fulfillment of certain conditions during the contractual term."

Arthur, a Brazilian international, only joined Barca from Gremio in 2018 and was hailed as a future star for the club, with many tipping him as the long-term successor to Xavi Hernandez in central midfield. 

After an encouraging start, the 23-year-old has been one of several players to stagnate this season but the primary motivation for his sale is thought to be financial. 

Arthur's departure puts more scrutiny on Barcelona's board and President Josep Maria Bartomeu. They have overseen a number of haphazard moves in the transfer market and have been accused of failing to implement any clear sense of direction for the club.

Barcelona have been hit hard by the three-month suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic and they needed to bring in around 70 million euros to satisfy their budget for the current season. 

By selling Arthur, the board can register the profits from the transfer immediately before spreading the payments for Pjanic over the length of the 30-year-old's contract. 

Pjanic joined Juventus from Roma in 2016. He was brought up in Luxembourg and initially made his name in French football with Metz and then Lyon.