Barcelona agree to sell Arthur to Juventus for €72 million, Miralem Pjanic to make opposite move

Both players will see out the seasons at their respective clubs before completing moves

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  Barcelona's Lionel Messi. Reuters

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  Barcelona's Luis Suarez, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during their 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo on Sunday, June 27. AP

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  Celta Vigo's Iago Aspas celebrates his late leveller. Getty

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  Barcelona's Luis Suarez, centre, celebrates after scoring the opening goal. AP

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  Celta Vigo's Fedor Smolov celebrates scoring his side's first goal. Getty

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  Barcelona's Lionel Messi, right, under pressure from Iago Aspas of Celta Vigo. AP

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  Luis Suarez, right, celebrates scoring his second goal. Getty

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  Barca's Gerard Pique wins a header. Getty

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  Celta Vigo's Iago Aspas is mobbed by teammates after scoring the late equaliser. Reuters

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  Barcelona's Luis Suarez celebrates his second goal. AP

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  Barcelona's Lionel Messi passes the ball. AP

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  Barcelona's Luis Suarez shields the ball from Rafinha of Celta Vigo. AP

Barcelona have agreed to sell Brazil international Arthur Melo to Italian champions Juventus for a fee of €72 million (Dh297m) plus add-ons with a separate deal being negotiated for Miralem Pjanic to move the opposite way.

Hours after announcing Arthur's move to Turin, the Spanish champions announced the signing of Pjanic, 30, on a four-year contract for an initial fee of €60 million with a potential €5 million more in bonuses.

Both midfielders will see out the remainder of the 2019/20 season at their respective clubs, which has been extended until August because of the coronavirus pandemic, before moving.

The transfer of Arthur, 23, helps Barcelona towards their target of generating €124 million in revenues through player sales before June 30.

Both clubs are still involved in the knockout stages of the Champions League, meaning they could face each other before making their moves ahead of next season.

"FC Barcelona and Juventus have reached an agreement for the transfer of the player Arthur Melo. The Italian club will pay €72 million, plus €10 million in variables," Barcelona confirmed.

"The player will remain at FC Barcelona until the official competitions for the 2019/20 season end."

Barcelona have the highest revenues in world football but their finances, like many clubs, have been hit by the pandemic. It has led the club to enact a 70 per cent pay cut for players in April.

Arthur joined Barca from Brazilian side Gremio in July 2018, helping the Catalans win La Liga in his first season.

However, he has failed to impress Quique Setien since the Spaniard replaced Ernesto Valverde in January, making only 14 starts this campaign.

Despite a promising opening spell, Arthur made only 19 league starts in his first season with the club, and coach Quique Setien said earlier this month that he had not lived up to expectations.

Miralem Pjanic will move to Barcelona at the end of the season from Juventus. Reuters

Setien said in a press conference ahead of Tuesday's clash with Atletico Madrid that the midfielder had promised to give his all for the rest of the season as Barcelona look to make up a two-point gap on Real Madrid at the top of the table.

"We expect the greatest commitment from him until the last day he is here," Setien said. "He is still a Barcelona player until the end of the season and has promised that he will give everything to achieve the goals we have set. He is a guy who will be committed until the last day."

Bosnia international Pjanic, 30, joined the Turin giants in 2016 from Roma, and has been an integral part of Maurizio Sarri's side.

Pjanic won Serie A in his first three seasons with Juve, who are four points clear of second-place Lazio as they bid for a ninth successive scudetti.