How Neymar’s advice had a hand in Barcelona’s most recent transfer deal

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Future Barcelona player Arthur has revealed talks with compatriots Neymar and Philippe Coutinho convinced him to make the move to the Blaugrana. 

Arthur, who currently plays for Brazilian club Gremio, recently agreed a deal to join Barcelona, which the Spanish club can exercise this summer. 

The 21-year-old midfielder played 39 times for Gremio last season across all competitions as they won the Copa Libertadores.

Arthur has since admitted that after talking with Neymar – who became the world’s most expensive footballer upon leaving Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth around £200 million last summer – and Coutinho, he is looking forward to making the move to Spain. NaijaBet.com

“I’m happy because the negotiations have ended well for both Gremio and myself,” he told O Globo (via Marca).

“We’re pleased with how everything went and now I have to talk to my club to see when I can join Barcelona.

“I asked Neymar about Barcelona and he only had good things to say, he recommended me to join the club. NaijaBet.com

“I also spoke with Coutinho who told me that it was a wonderful city and an excellent club to play for.”

Arthur also hopes to have the opportunity to play with Andres Iniesta, despite talk of the Spaniard moving to China at the end of the season.

“I have read that maybe he will go to China but I’d like to play with him and I don’t know what his future holds,” he added.

“A player like him makes football look easy. I don’t want to go into comparisons [between us] but he has some characteristics and I have others.”

Strong defence helping in Barcelona’s La Liga

For all their attacking power this season with the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Coutinho, Barcelona’s defence must take some credit in the club’s romp to the La Liga title. NaijaBet.com

Conceding just 13 goals in 29 games, no team across Europe’s top-five leagues has let in fewer goals than Barcelona, followed by Atletico Madrid in second with 14. NaijaBet.com

Similarly, no goalkeeper has kept more clean sheets in Europe’s top five leagues than Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who is level with Jan Oblak of Atletico on 18 – three ahead of Manchester United’s David De Gea.