Football | Bayern Munich signs Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal

Chile’s Arturo Vidal celebrates during a penalty shootout at the final Copa America soccer match against Argentina at the National Stadium in Santiago, earlier this month

Bayern Munich completed the long-anticipated transfer of Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal from Italian champion Juventus yesterday.
The Bundesliga champion said Vidal signed a four-year deal.
“I wanted to take another big step in my career,” Vidal said in a brief interview on Bayern’s website. “I want to develop further as a player, and I want to win important titles, such as the Champions League. And I see Bayern as the best opportunity for that.”
Bayern did not disclose financial details of the contract. But Italian media reports suggested Bayern paid 36 million euros (USD39.5 million), rising to 40 million euros ($44 million) with bonuses, to bring the 28-year-old Vidal back to the Bundesliga. If correct, the figures would make Vidal one of the most expensive Bundesliga transfers.
Vidal scored 15 goals and set up 21 more in 117 league games over four seasons for Bayer Leverkusen before leaving for Juventus in 2011.
The rugged midfielder is expected to fill the gap left by the departure of Bastian Schweinsteiger for Manchester United, and to give Pep Guardiola’s team more toughness.
Vidal was brought to Germany at age 20 from Chilean club Colo-Colo by then Leverkusen squad director Michael Reschke. Reschke ended his 35-year association with Leverkusen when Bayern appointed him as a director in June.
Vidal helped Juventus to four consecutive Serie A titles and, last season, the Coppa Italia. Barcelona denied the club a treble by winning the Champions League final between them in Berlin.
Vidal, capped 69 times by Chile, helped the team to its first Copa America win on July 5 by scoring in the penalty shootout win over Argentina in the final.
He reached a deal with prosecutors to avoid trial after crashing his Ferrari while driving under the influence of alcohol early in the tournament on June 16. He apologized for insulting a police officer and agreed to pay compensation to a driver involved in the crash.
Vidal is on a 10-man shortlist for the best player in Europe. Of Juventus’ five players nominated for the UEFA award, only goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and midfielder Paul Pogba remain. Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez have left the club.
This month, Bayern signed Brazil midfielder Douglas Costa from Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk for a reported 30 million euros ($33 million).
Costa will help ease Bayern’s concerns over injury-prone wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, 32 and 31, respectively. AP