Serie A giants Inter Milan are said to be interested in signing Chile international Arturo Vidal from Barcelona in January.
Inter coached by Antonio Conte had worked with Vidal in Juventus when they both won different trophies during a successful spell.
The 32-year-old joined Barcelona from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2018 and has made 71 appearances for the club. Vidal hasn’t played much this season and has only featured 18 times, starting five of the games and coming on as a substitute in the other games. The Chilean has, however, scored four goals for Ernesto Valverde’s side.
He has been linked with a move from Barcelona having fallen down the pecking order in the midfield which has resulted in a lack of playing time as well as a poor relationship with coach Valverde.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Barcelona would be willing to allow Vidal to go in January for £17million if Inter Milan can meet the player’s price tag. The paper added that the Serie A club has reportedly encouraged the midfielder to force a move away from the Nou Camp to help Conte’s side free him from Barcelona’s shackles.
Meanwhile, Barcelona might be prepared to accept a six-month loan deal for Vidal with an option to buy him back in June and Inter also keen on getting him on loan with an option to sign him permanently.
Last week, rumors of him leaving the Spanish side was riffed after prior reports that the 32-year-old stormed out of training this week.
ESPN reports that Vidal had stormed out of training on Tuesday after learning that he wouldn’t be involved in the 0-0 draw against Real Madrid, which he entered as a 55th-minute substitute replacing Nelson Semedo.
Reacting to speculations about him leaving Barcelona in January, Vidal told Chilean media outlet Alairelibre that: “My sale? I’m not thinking about it, even less now that I’m on holiday.
“My agent is handling it. I’m super calm and happy at Barcelona, then we’ll see when I get back. It’s not me who decides whether or not to play and, in any case, I will always help Barcelona. And people know my value, that makes me calm.”
