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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Theo Squires

'We made our choices' - Juventus boss Max Allegri sends Arthur Melo message after Liverpool move

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has sent a message to Arthur Melo after the Brazil international joined Liverpool on loan on transfer deadline day.

The 26-year-old, who joined the Old Lady in a £75m move from Barcelona in 2020, endured an underwhelming two-year stint in Turin and made only 20 Serie A appearances last season following Allegri's return to the club. Not featuring for Juve during the opening weeks of the season, he was one of a number of midfielders to leave the club this summer along with the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Denis Zakaria, as Juventus looked to balance the books after bringing in Angel Di Maria, Paul Pogba, Filip Kostic and Leandro Paredes.

After the transfer window closed, Allegri was asked about Juventus' summer business and the deadline day arrival of Paredes from Paris Saint-Germain. And he explained his decision to sanction Arthur' s departure to Liverpool when reflecting on his midfield options.

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“Paredes arrived with a lot of enthusiasm," he told reporters. "He is an important player who increases the quality level of our midfield with Manuel Locatelli, Nicolo Fagioli and Fabio Miretti. The club’s objective was to keep young players not just to make up the numbers, but because they are ready to play.

“We are waiting for the return of Pogba, while there are players with different characteristics like Rabiot and Weston McKennie. We have shuffled the pack to ensure we have a good mix of different types of players.

“Zakaria had this possibility (to leave). He felt that he didn’t have much space and accepted the opportunity with great enthusiasm. I wish him and Arthur all the best, they are still fine players. We made our choices and they are happy, so we completed the squad as best we could."

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