In a recent interview (mentioned by the Manchester Evening News) before Barcelona’s Supercopa de Espana clash versus Atletico Madrid, Ernesto Valverde addressed what the future holds for Arturo Vidal and said, “I’ve talked to Arturo Vidal like I have the others.
“He’s here. For now, I’m counting on him and I’m not thinking about the future.
“We’ll see what happens, but I’m not thinking about his departure. He’ll be on the pitch or on the bench tomorrow.”
Manchester United have been recently linked with a move for him, but the Barcelona midfielder is not a priority transfer for them at this moment (via Manchester Evening News).
Vidal’s Good Run Of Form At Catalonia
The Chilean veteran has been a useful member of the Barca squad this season, so it is no surprise that Valverde wants to keep hold of him for now. Vidal has already put in some match-winning displays for the Catalan outfit and hasn’t shown any signs of rust despite edging towards the last stage of his playing career.
The 32-year-old has played in 20 matches for the Spanish champions this term, scoring six goals while creating one assist on all fronts. The former Bayern Munich midfield ace has averaged 2.4 tackles, 0.5 interceptions, 0.6 shots and 0.4 key passes per game in La Liga (stats via whoscored). He also has a wealth of experience at the international level, having represented Chile in 113 matches while registering 27 goals for his nation thus far.
What Does The Ex-Juventus Midfielder Bring To The Table?
Vidal is a tough-tackling midfielder who is always ready to work his socks off for the benefit of his team. He can still contribute by scoring a few goals going forward and also possesses the technical prowess required to succeed at a historical place like the Nou Camp. However, father time is slowly but surely catching up with him so there is an argument over whether Valverde should consider letting the Chilean go this month before his contract expires at the end of the next campaign.
Should Barca Part Ways With Vidal This Month?
Vidal has been a brilliant utility player for Barca this season, so it makes no sense for both parties to part ways at this moment. However, Valverde should think about signing a long-term replacement for the South American sensation next summer before he makes his decision on whether to cut him loose.
It won’t be easy to find a suitable candidate capable of replacing the ageing Chilean as he is quite a unique talent. It’s not every day that players of Vidal’s skillset become available for a transfer, so the Catalans are better off keeping hold of him for now and only make a decision on his future at the end of this season.
