Gremio Stall Barcelona Move For £22m-rated Arthur

Gremio have made their position on midfielder Arthur clear, claiming he will not be leaving the club before December.

Barcelona were the leading favourites to take the Gremio star away from Brazil, with the 21-year-old posing for pictures wearing a Barca shirt which enraged his employers.

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According to UOL Esporte, Gremio president Romildo Bolzan Jnr has insisted he will not be leaving before the end of the calendar year.

At this moment it's (transfer talks) stopped,' Bolzan said. 'But I can tell you that all the ideas are Arthur will stay with us until December.

'All parties agree that it is more or less agreed that Arthur will stay until the end of 2018 if the negotiations are completed. I repeat, if they are completed.'

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Arthur met with Barcelona's sporting director Robert Fernandez at the start of December where he was photographed wearing the shirt, but his - and Barcelona's - were not taken lightly by the Brazilian club.