Barcelona weren’t perturbed
Despite being one of Europe’s leading central midfielders, Arturo Vidal slipped under the Premier League radar this week as he heads to Barcelona in a £27m move.
The Chilean international had been on the verge of joining Inter Milan before Barca swooped in, with the La Liga giants gazumping a Serie A rival for the second time this summer after snatching Malcom from Roma’s grasp in July.
Vidal has been strongly linked to Chelsea and Manchester United in previous transfer windows and so it’s a surprise that there was a lack of interest from England on this occasion.
According to Spanish journalist Jose Alvarez Haya of El Chiringuito TV, both United and Manchester City were offered the 31-year-old around a month ago but decided to look elsewhere.
Apparently last season’s top two had concerns about the Bayern Munich star’s age, along with the fact that he has undergone surgery for two serious knee injuries in the past.
Arturo Vidal was offered one month ago to Manchester City and Manchester United by his agents but both clubs discard the signement. His age and his knee (two surgeries) were the reason of the refuse even the price was reasonable. @elchiringuitotv
— Jose Alvarez Haya (@10JoseAlvarez) August 4, 2018
Barcelona were clearly unperturbed by Vidal’s injury history and announced on Friday that they have agreed terms with Bayern over the transfer, with the Chilean set to arrive at the Nou Camp as Paulinho’s replacement.
Given that he almost guarantees a title triumph – having won the league with Juventus and then Bayern in each of the last seven seasons – will this be a decision that United and City live to regret?
Jose Mourinho has at least strengthened his midfield options with the addition of Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk, but having missed out on Jorginho too, Pep Guardiola would surely have benefited from a reunion with his former charge.
