Felipe Melo: Juventus' Biggest Disappointment of the Season

“I’m very happy to be here at Juventus and I can’t wait to start work,” was Felipe Melo’s first statement as the club officially announced their €25 million signing.

To say that the expectations on the Brazilian were sky-high is probably an understatement—especially after the Brazilian’s successful season in Fiorentina and great form in the Confederations Cup tournament. Felipe Melo along with the summer’s other big signing, Diego, was supposed to lead the Old Lady to glory this season.

Unfortunately, things didn’t quite turn out that way.

Juventus started off the season in style as Ciro Ferrara’s men collected four consecutive victories where the Brazilian alongside his fellow countryman played an integral part. Melo showcased that he was a dominant force to be reckoned with by winning all his duels—ground and aerial, making vital interceptions, starting up attacks, and delivering wonderful crosses. Basically being a giant in midfield.

That was all soon to change.

After their impressive start to the season, the entire team began to struggle. But there was one player in particular that was having a difficult time, Felipe Melo.

The Brazilian confessed to being fatigued after the summer’s hectic football.

“I had little time to rest after the Confederations Cup,” he said a few weeks into the new campaign.

Suddenly Melo had difficulties in even getting the little things right. The defensive midfielder quickly became an outlet of frustration for the supporters as the entire team around him also struggled to get back to winning ways.

Ferrara called for patience, and while Melo was given the less-than-flattering ‘Golden Bin’ award, the midfielder maintained that he was indeed “having the best year of his career."

His former coach Cesare Prandelli was having difficulties understanding the Brazilian’s poor form, but did leap to the player’s defense as criticism towards the 26-year-old intensified.

“I can say that I used to ask him simple things last year because he never used to take initiatives. As for the rest, he certainly is not a play-maker. With me he always knew how and when to move. He is a good player with good technique and discreet vision  therefore he must know what to do when he has the ball.”

Even the Brazil coach, Carlo Dunga, was baffled at the problems Melo was showcasing at Juventus—considering he was suffering no such things when playing for the Selecão.

“From a distance it’s not easy to understand his problems. With me, in the Selecão, he has always done well. Each team has its own mentality and style. For Brazil he is great, while for Juventus he is still struggling. But I think the whole team is struggling. Gilberto helps him in doing the "dirty work’" and covering. This way, Felipe Melo has more freedom to exploit all of his features. It is difficult to make a comparison between Brazil and Juventus.”

Things went from bad to worse in Juventus’ final game before the winter break against Catania. Melo resembled a lost kid on the field and couldn’t get a single pass right as he continuously kept giving the ball away cheaply, which put the Bianconeri in several vulnerable situations.

After 32 minutes of the horrendous display—which was probably also fueled by the jeers from the stands—Ferrara decided it was time to end the Brazilian’s misery by taking him off the field; to a massive chorus of whistles.

Melo’s face said it all. Not only was the Brazilian struggling under the pressure on the field, but his lack of confidence couldn’t have been more obvious.

Although his poor form has prompted speculation over his future in Turin, it is hardly likely that the player would leave during the transfer window.

Instead, he’s probably looking on the bright side; the winter break couldn’t have come at a better time—both for him and the team as a whole, as they are hoping that the turnaround will come once the second half of the season kicks into gear.

As for now, good luck.