In a recent interview with Fox Sports (via Calciomercato) after Barcelona’s 2-1 away win against Slavia Praha in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night, Arturo Vidal revealed his frustrations over the lack of game time he has received at the Catalan club this season and said, “I am sad because I did not play the game. However, the important thing in the end is for the team to win.”
Vidal Not Ready To Settle For A Reserved Role In Spain
It is worth noting that Inter Milan have shown interest in recruiting the talented playmaker, but nothing has been finalised yet (via Calciomercato). Even though the Chilean international has acknowledged that his team’s victory was ‘the important thing’, it is clear that he is frustrated with his current situation at the Nou Camp. He had to come on as a substitute against Slavia Praha but only managed to get 12 minutes under his belt. Vidal has played less than 40 minutes for the third time in his last five appearances for Barca on all fronts.
Ernesto Valverde has preferred the likes of Arthur Melo, Sergio Busquets and Frenkie de Jong ahead of the South American midfield ace which has put his long-term future at Catalonia in doubt. Since joining from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2018, the 32-year-old has gone on to make 51 appearances for the Spanish champions, netting five goals while providing eight assists across all competitions.
Vidal has also got a wealth of experience at the international level having represented Chile in 113 matches so far while scoring 27 goals for his country in the process.
What Does The South American Midfield Ace Offer On The Pitch?
Vidal has also experienced a positive start to this campaign after he registered two goals and grabbed one assist in eight appearances for the Catalans this term. The Chilean veteran can still be a productive presence for his team at the centre of the park.
He can make driving runs from midfield and does not back down from making a challenge to win back possession for his team. The ex-Bundesliga sensation is also dominant in the air as he has remarkable upper body strength that allows him to win most of his aerial duels.
Should Valverde Consider Parting Ways With Vidal?
However, there is no denying that father time is catching up with Vidal as he has lost a yard of pace from his game over the past few years. Vidal can still be a force to be reckoned with in midfield, but he is not good enough to play for the full 90 minutes anymore. Valverde currently has a plethora of quality midfield options at his disposal, so letting the Chilean talent leave could be a logical move for both the player and the club.
Vidal can benefit from a switch to a foreign league while Barca could use his departure as an opportunity to bring in a much younger replacement.
