Why Manchester United missed a trick by not signing Arturo Vidal

According to BBC, Spanish giants Barcelona have reached an agreement with Bayern Munich sign Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal. The 31-year-old will have his medical done with the La Liga champions in the next few days.

The Daily Star claimed that English club Manchester United were interested in the player earlier this summer. However, Barcelona have snapped up the player and United might rue losing out on the Chilean.

Here’s why the Red Devils have missed a trick by not signing Vidal this summer:

Vidal could have been a perfect fit for United

The playing style preferred by Jose Mourinho does require a midfielder of tenacity and willingness to cover the ground in order to impact the game. Vidal is one such player who gives his 100% every time he steps onto the pitch. The 31-year-old is a versatile midfielder who can play as a number 6 or as a number 8.

Mourinho likes to have his midfielders contribute equally in both facets of the game. Vidal epitomises that by having a good blend of defensive and attacking attributes under his belt. The Chilean has a pass accuracy rate of 88.5% and created 26 chances in 22 league appearances last season.

Furthermore, his tackling and interception at crucial points of the game is something to admire. The 31-year-old has a tackle and interception rate of 3.1 and 1.3 per game respectively.

Vidal’s height (180cm) allows him to win aerial duels, at an average of 1.8 per game. This indicates his threat from dead-ball circumstances too, where the defenders need to mark him specifically.

So overall, the former Juventus could have been the perfect midfielder for Mourinho. At 31, he also has the required experience of playing big games, proving his prominence on the stage where it matters the most.

Verdict

United, for some reason, have been underwhelming in this transfer window and Mourinho isn’t happy with the squad’s depth. They have signed Fred to add quality to their midfield but getting Vidal would have been the perfect icing on the cake.

Hence, the Red Devils have missed a trick here. The Chilean, as mentioned above, could have been a perfect fit in Mourinho’s midfield jigsaw. He would have helped Manchester United challenge Manchester City for the title this season.

Stats Courtesy – Whoscored.com