La Liga
Arturo Vidal Arrives At Barcelona
Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal has agreed a deal with Catalan giants and will join Barcelona from Bayern Munich very soon. The fee is reportedly 19 million Euros+ 3 million in variables. FC Barcelona in an official statement confirmed the following:
All that is pending are the medical tests that the player will undertake over the course of the next few days. Once completed, the player will put pen to paper very soon. He will sign the contract for 3 seasons(until 2021). The club will shortly inform everyone about the arrival of the player and the presentation ceremony.
Good Signing Or Not?
Arturo Vidal is a very Paulinho-esque player and he can very easily fill the void created by the Brazilian’s departure. fair percentage of the fans initially disagreed with the signing. Considering that the player is already 31 and that the board has made sufficient midfield signings already. But it is far more than just a midfield-bolstering signing. Not too dissimilar to Paulinho’s according to many. The only difference is he is more technical and has experience. Having played for world class teams like Juventus and Bayern Munich he can add a lot of quality to the squad.
Coach Ernesto Valverde had high praise for Vidal when questioned. He was quoted saying
“We’re very happy with Vidal’s arrival. We hope he adapts quickly. He is a player that will provide us with energy in midfield, with proven experience and quality.”
“Vidal is like a warrior. He gives everything on the field and transmits that spirit to the whole team. We want to take advantage of that.”
Considering the relatively low transfer fee for such a well reputed and experienced player, it seems to be a great signing. And the possibility of him leaving for a different club in the future for a price higher than Barça paid for him also seems likely.
Does He Fit The System?
The initial reaction is no. Barcelona are never attributed with physicality in their game. They are always focused on being technically adept on and off the ball in terms of vision, movement and execution. But that being said, Vidal can add that dimension to the squad as Paulinho did. Although Vidal also has a lot more to offer. He is versatile. He can often drift out wide thanks to his great crossing ability. His physicality allows him to retain the ball and win aerial duels easily. In addition he can pop in long shots when needed. These are only a few of the many weapons in his Arsenal.
It is safe to say that everyone will be looking forward to see him play. Barcelona have done some great business and they have immense squad depth.
