Wowed Catalan Press Reveals 'Secrets Of New Arthur,' But Homeland Demands More From FC Barcelona Midfielder

As I touched on earlier in the month, the 'new' Arthur Melo has become the darling of the Catalan Press while also winning FC Barcelona fans over with his incredible start to the 2019/2020 .

Though on the surface it is evident to see that the Brazilian is fitter and therefore more able to last 90 minutes - something he didn't achieve even once in the league his debut campaign - further details have been revealed by Mundo Deportivo today in the innoncent yet rather sinisterly-titled piece 'The Secrets of the New Arthur'.

According to the sports daily's Gabriel Sans, they include:

t
• Working with specialists in the summer to boost performance and prevent injuries, a common problem for him in his freshman term when hamstring knocks prevented him from featuring in key games.
t
• Taking better personal care, which includes not just keeping a better diet but also sleeping at sensible hours.
t
• Learning how to better understand Ernesto Valverde and his commands, which has therefore improved his understanding of the team's tactical scheme, and not provoking the coach's ire by embarking on ill-advised trips such as that to Neymar's birthday party in Paris days before a Clásico in February.

Also noted were the pull he has with dressing room heavyweights such as Lionel Messi, whose public approval and praise of the 23-year-old have helped him to integrate as much as his rapid learning of Castellano.

Before all these pieces could fall into place however, the Copa America, as Sans eloquently put, 'gave Arthur wings'. Overlooked by Tite for Russia 2018, the Grêmio academy product was vital in landing his country its first piece of major silverware in 12 years at the Maracanã when Brazil were crowned continental kings.

Enjoying more attacking freedom for the Seleção, this has now gradually been afforded to him at club level and repaid with four assists thus far.

Yet while Melo is becoming more appreciated in Spain, detractors in his homeland have been left unimpressed by his latest outings for the record World Cup winners.

On the most recent leg of the Brasil Global Tour - the 13,000 mile round trip to Singapore for which left Barcelona incensed - the playmaker performed sluggishly against Nigeria and Senegal while his right to a starting berth in the national team first XI was questioned.

Though Melo has been named in the squad that will face South Korea and Argentina in the Middle East next month, leading journalists such as André Rizek have sparked viral debate by advising Arthur to look over his shoulder at the rising Gerson.

A year younger than he, Flamengo's record signing has led the Rio giants to the top of the domestic Serie A and the final of the Libertadores.

Elsewhere, Bruno Grossi, who covers the Seleção for media giant UOL and accompanied it in Southeast Asia, also deemed that Arthur 'does not justify being a starter in the Brazil national team'.

At one point adored in his homeland while yet to convince in his newly-adopted European home city, the tables have been turned and it is now down to the Melo himself to find a way of appeasing both galleries.