The best team in Germany has gotten even stronger as Bayern Munich have reached an agreement with Juventus over the transfer of Arturo Vidal.
Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed the Chilean international midfielder’s move, pending a medical, at a press conference in Guangzhou, China where Bayern are currently on tour. He said: ”
I can fundamentally confirm that we have reached an agreement with both parties, Juventus and the player. All that is lacking now is the medical and the signatures on the contract.”
That should happen in time for Vidal to link up with his new team-mates from next week, Rummenigge added. The former Bayer Leverkusen star is currently on holiday in Miami after his successful participation in the Copa America and he is due in Munich at the weekend to undergo his medical.
The 28-year-old put in a transfer request earlier this summer once he learned of Bayern’s interest. Vidal moved to Juve from Leverkusen in 2011 and made a total of 124 Serie A appearances, scoring 35 goals. He arrives in Munich with the experience of 117 Bundesliga appearances and 15 goals, while he has also played in the UEFA Champions League 27 times, netting nine.
He will become the second midfielder to leave Juve this summer after Andrea Pirlo, although i Bianconeri have signed Sami Khedira on a free transfer. Bayern’s Mario Gotze is another Juve target, although Rummenigge quashed reports he would move to Turin as part of the deal for Vidal.
Borussia Dortmund general manager Hans-Joachim Watzke believes Vidal’s capture will help Bayern secure the Bundesliga title for the next two seasons.
“He’s got a warrior’s mentality and that is combined with great footballing quality,” Watzke told Germany’s dpa agency. “That’s a huge transfer for Bayern and it’s certainly going to do them good.”
It is unlikely to do their Bundesliga rivals any good, though, with Watzke predicting the gulf between the record German champions and the rest of the league will grow.
“The question as to who will win the title this season need not even be asked,” Watzke added. “Bayern are going to become the first club to be crowned champions of Germany four times in a row, and it’s probably going to be five the following year.”
What does it say about the competitiveness of the Bundesliga, when even Bayern’s biggest rivals are already conceding the title to the Bavarian giants? And who will that impact the Bundesliga’s ability to attract top players from around the world to teams other than Bayern?
