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Chilean international Arturo Vidal’s much-anticipated move to Bayern Munich is nearing completion, with the German club’s CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirming that the transfer is imminent. Both the transfer fee with Juventus and personal terms with the player has been completed and the move will be officially announced subject to a medical.
In a statement released on Bayern’s official website, Rummennige said:
"I can confirm in principle that we have achieved with both parties, Juventus and the players union. It lacks only the medical examination and the signing of the contract. If all goes normally, he can start next week in the training mode."
According to The Guardian, the transfer fee is reported to be £28 million with Juventus receiving £26 million up front and a further £2m in add-ons. He will be signing a four-year contract worth £90,000- a week with The Bavarians.
ESPN FC reported last week that Chilean newspaper La Cuarta had said that Vidal had told his family following the Copa America victory that he wanted to move to Munich. Similarly, a report in The Guardian had suggested that Vidal’s agent Fernando Felicevich was in Munich to finalise a deal for the Chilean.
Juventus director general Giuseppe Marotta has now confirmed that the Copa America winner is indeed moving to Bayern after revealing the player was interested in a change of surroundings.
Speaking at a press conference, as reported by Sky Sports, Marotta said: “We’ve always said we won’t sell players unless the players indicate that’s what they want. I asked him (Vidal) before I went to meet the Bayern Munich leadership. He confirmed he wanted a different experience.”
Marotta stressed that there was no bad blood between the pair as he fully understands Vidal’s decision, saying “I’d also emphasise that the player had a contract ending in 2017 while they’re offering him a five-year contract, and that’s very important for his future,” according to Sky Sports.
Vidal one of Europe’s most sought-after players
The 28-year-old has spent time previously in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen who he played for four seasons, before making his move to Italy in 2011. In fact, he came very close to signing for the Bavarians in the transfer window that summer but the two German clubs could not agree on a transfer fee and the player instead ended up joining Juventus.
‘The Warrior’ as Vidal is often called, has been a vital cog in the Turin-based club’s midfield, along with Paul Pogba and Andrea Pirlo and has been instrumental in their success of late. Juventus clinched a league and cup double in Italy while also making it to the finals of the UEFA Champions League, where they lost to Barcelona.
Vidal enjoyed further success with his national team as Chile went on to win the Copa America beating Argentina. However, things were not so rosy off the pitch as he was arrested for drunk driving after crashing his Ferrari late night after the first game of the tournament.
There’s no doubting his quality however and Bayern Munich look to have found an ideal replacement for Bastian Schweinsteiger who has moved to Manchester United. United themselves were hot on the heels of Vidal’s signature last summer while he was linked with a move to Arsenal this year. However, the Gunners manager Arsene Wenger claimed that he was not interested in signing Vidal.
Juventus are not a selling club: Marotta
The Old Lady have been facing a summer exodus following their excellent season and Vidal’s departure is sure to deplete them further, after Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo and Angelo Ogbonna decide their career forward lay elsewhere. The Argentinian moved back home to Boca Juniors, Ogbonna to West Ham while the 36-year-old Italian opted for a career in the MLS with New York City.
Marotta emphasised though that he didn’t want Juventus to be labelled as a selling club, they were simply unwilling to stand in the players’ way if they wanted a move away.
“We’ve always said we won’t sell players unless the players indicate that’s what they want,” Marotta said, according to Sky Sports. “That’s how it was. Tevez asked to return home to Argentina. Pirlo made some assessments and decided he wanted a new experience. Ogbonna asked for opportunity and consistency in playing time.”
Edit: This report was updated on 23rd July with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge ’s quotes
