As Crew SC prepared to head to Toronto in late May, Crew coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter said it was “way too early” to discuss midfielder Artur’s long-term future with the club.

More than two months later, that still appears to be the case.

In February, the 21-year-old Brazilian midfielder joined Crew SC on a season-long loan from Brazilian club Sao Paulo FC. At the time, a source told The Dispatch the loan came with an option for Crew SC to buy Artur’s contract beyond the 2017 season.

Almost immediately upon joining Crew SC, Artur claimed a spot in the lineup alongside captain Wil Trapp and has been steady, providing speed, ground cover and technical ability that is rare elsewhere on the Crew roster.

A report out of Brazil earlier this week indicated Sao Paulo FC is expected to meet with Artur’s representatives soon to discuss his future. But it is clear from comments this week from Berhalter, Artur and those who know Artur that future has not yet been determined.

Berhalter said Thursday that he is hopeful Artur will be able to dictate where he plays beyond this season, asked about the report.

“I’m sure when we talk to Sao Paulo, hopefully the player will have influence. You just never know. It’s a business,” Berhalter said. “You see with Neymar (heading to PSG) that business takes over and sometimes players’ wishes, you don’t always get to honor. Hopefully we’ll be able to keep Artur, but we’ll have to see.”

It is unclear how expensive the buy option is to keep Artur in Columbus. Asked about the possibility of Artur remaining with Crew SC next season, Berhalter indicated there are more conversations to be had with Sao Paulo FC.

“I think he’s a good player, he’s performing well, and again, that’s a conversation we’re going to be having with the club,” he said.

If Columbus doesn’t work out a way to keep Artur with Crew SC, he would again be under contract with Sao Paulo. Whether he would be loaned to a different club at that point is unclear.

Midway through the Serie A season, Sao Paulo is in a fight to avoid relegation, an unexpected spot for one of Brazil’s biggest clubs.

A source close to Artur told The Dispatch there has been expressed interest in Artur from several European clubs, but added there are no legs that interest beyond basic observation while Artur is in Columbus.

“At this moment I don’t think he’s going to Europe. He’s under contract with Columbus and Columbus has the option,” the source said. “We don’t want to force anyone and we respect (Berhalter), so there’s no point to try to force any other situation for now.”

Artur told The Dispatch on Thursday he is focused on the day-to-day, asked if he has had discussions with the Crew or Sao Paulo FC about his future beyond this season.

“I hope that that gets resolved, but mostly I’m just trying to think about how to help Columbus until the end of the season,” Artur said through a team interpreter. “I always talk to my family, talk to my agents before I make a decision, then we’ll make a decision. I’m always trying to learn wherever I am.”

On several fronts, Artur has been able to achieve his stated goal of learning in Columbus. He has two assists in 18 appearances in a league he has described as more physical than the one he came from in Brazil.

He’s more familiar with his new city, with a three-in-the-back system and with the English language after hours upon hours spent practicing at the Crew’s training facility in Obetz. The vast majority of a six-minute interview with a Dispatch reporter Thursday was conducted in English.

Earlier this week, Artur welcomed a familiar face – one of his older brothers, Matheus – to town.

“It’s good that my brother’s here. He keeps me company and it’s so much better. The Internet (Skype, etc.) is not the same as company,” Artur said. “We decided it’s good for him to know another country. It’s good for me, too.”

Matheus, who Artur said is four years older, was in attendance at Crew SC practice on Thursday. He'll stay in Columbus through the end of the season, Artur said.

Where the pair heads after that is to be determined.

aerickson@dispatch.com

@AEricksonCD