Philippe Coutinho has labelled Arthur Melo a ‘genius’ on Instagram after the Liverpool midfielder shared that 2022 has been ‘the hardest’ of his footballing life.
The 26-year-old moved to Liverpool in the summer on a season-loan loan deal from Italian giants Juventus, but injuries have meant that he has only played 13 minutes of football for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
At times, players can accept their own qualities perhaps not being able to reach such elite heights or matching the standards of the clubs they are in.
This was Arthur Melo’s chance to stick his chest out and start his Anfield career in the best possible way, but he has been dealt with the biggest roadblock that has stopped that from happening.
Therefore, it’s understandable why the Brazil midfielder, who also had an injury towards the back end of Juventus’ season in 2021/22, is annoyed and frustrated at how the year panned out.
Nonetheless, the on-loan Liverpool star posted the following message on his IG about his recent 12 months, as Aston Villa’s Coutinho responded in the comments section by telling him: ‘You are a genius, my brother. Up.’
“2022, the hardest year of my life,” said Arthur Melo. “A complicated football year, with many injuries, many criticisms that I had to listen silently, without at least having the opportunity to expose the truth.
“What was really happening, many sleepless nights because of physical pain, many days inside from the hospital, the anguish of waiting for the medical report in hope that it wasn’t something that could prevent me from doing what I love most, playing football.
“The year in which I took the most development as a football player to achieve my goals. 2022 was the year I dedicated the most off the field, trained the most, tried the most and was the year I had the most problems on the field. A year with a lot of emotional turbulence in my personal life, a year that the more I fought, the more things went off track! And the most important thing… 2022 was the year I grew the most as a person, as a son, as a boyfriend, as a friend, as an athlete!
“I just have to thank for the year 2022, for all the learnings, a difficult year, a difficult phase. But it was a year that taught me a lot of lessons and that I will carry to the next years of my life. Thank you 2022 and bring on 2023! Be Strong, Have Faith”
STRONG START TO 2023 FOR ARTHUR MELO
The first aim for Arthur Melo will be to get back on the training pitch and then onto the field of play where he can try to impress the Liverpool fans.
The Reds are in need of a midfielder or two. They might dip into the now-opened January transfer market and sign someone, as well as doing the same in the summer.
But if Arthur can get out on the pitch, then perhaps he can be that surprise permanent signing Liverpool makes in the summer.
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