Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal, then with Juventus, provided us with the most incessant transfer rumor story line of summer 2014. The Chilean midfielder was, according to numerous outlets, potentially moving to Manchester United. The protracted “will he or won’t he” transfer saga went on all summer, breaking the internet along the way. Media in three countries- Italy, England and Chile covered it incessantly as there were even reports claiming Vidal underwent a medical for United.
Obviously it never happened, and Vidal stayed put at Juve. Then United manager Louis van Gaal also had some concerns about the state of Vidal’s fitness in his knees.
Then, in the next summer transfer window, Arturo Vidal rejected the chance to move to United and transferred to Bayern, as he said he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to play for Pep Guardiola. With Guardiola now having moved on to Manchester City, and United in the market for a midfielder this summer, Arturo is back on their radar. Vidal could once again become an Old Trafford transfer target, but the Chilean says he’s not looking to change teams again this summer. This despite the fact that his current contract is set to expire at the end of next season.
“I’m not thinking about a transfer. I feel very comfortable here,” Vidal said in an interview with Sport1.
“Of course I would like to extend my contract. That’s an option. My kids are very happy here, too.”
No doubt that’s a huge blow to any team that’s keen on signing Vidal, but it is only February, and the transfer window doesn’t open until July, so a lot can change. After all this Arturo Vidal in a transfer narrative too; thus you must expect plenty of plot twists and turns.
Vidal has also recently been linked in transfer rumors to Chelsea, as he’s earned a lot of respect from Blues Manager Antonio Conte. Arturo Vidal played under whom he played under at Juventus from 2011-2014.
Conte would not comment on stories that claim Chelsea have made an approach for Arturo Vidal, but he did openly state his desire to have the midfielder on his team.
Of course, the Chelsea brass and their team manager would have to first get on the same page regarding the transfer market (something that doesn’t seem very likely to happen soon) in order to acquire Vidal. For United, they will certainly have a need for a midfielder like Vidal, as the future of Marouane Fellaini (out of contract at the end of the season) remains uncertain, and Michael Carrick is likely to retire at the end of the campaign.
Perhaps Vidal’s national teammate Alexis Sanchez and his former Serie A teammate Paul Pogba could assist United in the recruiting process this summer.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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