FC Inter Sign Arturo Vidal From Barcelona: Is He The Midfielder Antonio Conte Needs?

FC Inter have announced on Tuesday the signing of midfielder Arturo Vidal. 

The Chilean international joins FC Inter on a permanent deal from FC Barcelona.

Vidal signed a two-year contract until the end of the 2022/2023 season with the Nerazzurri, where he will earn $7 million per season, Italian transfer market expert Gianluca Di Marzio reports.

A statement on FC Inter website reads: “After the official announcement this morning that he has joined the Club on a permanent deal, Arturo Vidal has picked the number that he will accompany him on his Nerazzurri journey: he will be Inter’s new No.22!”.

FC Barcelona confirmed in a statement that the deal is worth $850.000 in performance-based add-ons, meaning that the Chilean international arrived in Milan as a free agent.

The 33-year-old goes back to Serie A where he rejoins with head coach Antonio Conte.

In Turin, the pair won three successive Serie A titles together between 2011/2012 and 2013/2014 before the current FC Inter coach left for the Italian National team bench.

Conte appeared delighted to reunite with Vidal during the first training on Tuesday, as he plans to make him a key part of the nerazzurri midfield for the next season.

In a post on his official Instagram account, Vidal expressed his satisfaction with the signing.

“Today I start a new stage in my career with great enthusiasm. Thanks to Inter for believing in me, to my new teammates, and to everyone at the Club for the nice welcome. I hope we can win many things together. Forza Inter!”

Vidal became the third midfielder to leave Barcelona, as new coach Ronald Koeman is on a quest to get rid of the high-earning stars during this window of the summer transfer market.

Brazilian midfielder Arthur Melo joined Juventus last June in a swap deal that saw Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic going the opposite direction, while on September 2 Ivan Rakitic reunited with FC Seville after a six-season stint in Catalunya.

Vidal featured in a total of 96 games with the Blaugrana jersey, contributing to 11 goals and 10 assists.

It is yet to be seen how the Dutch coach will replace him, given that Vidal is the Barcelona player who has been most involved in goals in La Liga since the start of the 2018/19 season, according to Opta stats.

Following the news that Vidal would be going to Inter, Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi took to Instagram on Monday to bid farewell to his former teammate.

“I only knew you from facing each other and you always seemed like a phenomenon to me, but then I was lucky enough to meet you personally and you surprised me even more.

They were two years sharing many things and you made yourself notice a lot, the dressing room will miss you. I wish you all the best in this new stage at your new club. We will cross paths again, for sure”.

Arturo Vidal is set to make his FC Inter debut this weekend against Fiorentina according to a report from the online edition of Italian daily newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.

It also remains to be seen where and how will Conte deploy him. The Chilean could be either used both in a 3-5-2 system, side by side with Marcelo Brozovic, or behind the striker in a 3-4-1-2 system, forcing Christian Eriksen to spend more time on the bench.