The long-awaited transfer of Arthur to Barcelona will not happen this year – that’s according to Gremio president Romildo Bolzan Junior.

In March, Barcelona announced that they had agreed an option to buy the diminutive midfielder, who has drawn comparisons to former Blaugrana star Andres Iniesta in Brazil.

The deal could cost the Catalans up to €39 million but even if they exercise the right to buy Arthur – which they must do before July 15 – there seems to be little chance of him playing at Camp Nou until 2019.

Bolzan insists Barca must wait until Gremio’s season finishes in December – and only then can Arthur, 21, join up with Lionel Messi and Co.

“There’s no chance that Arthur leaves the club in the coming months because it’s already written down, there’s a contract signed and that is not a possibility,” he said per Sport.

“Barcelona have never brought to the table any interest in signing Arthur halfway through the [Brazilian] season.

“The only right that Barca have is an option to buy him, in which case they must do the transaction before July 15.”