Barca agree deal to sign Bayern’s Vidal
Chilean to ink 3-year contract pending medical
>> BARCELONA: Barcelona announced on Friday that they had reached an agreement with Bayern Munich to sign Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal.
“FC Barcelona and FC Bayern Munich have reached an agreement for the transfer of player Arturo Vidal,” said Barcelona on their website.
“The agreement is for the next three seasons and is pending the medical examination that the player will undertake over the course of the next few days.
“FC Barcelona will shortly inform everyone about the arrival of the player and the agenda of the presentation ceremony.”
Neither club has announced a transfer fee for Vidal, but media reports in Spain said Barca would pay around €20 million.
Vidal, 31, was whisked away from Bayern’s pre-season training base on Friday morning with the club’s director of sport Hasan Salihamidzic to finalise the details.
Vidal will reportedly earn around €9 million per season with the Spanish giants.
His arrival will make up for the surprise departure of Brazilian midfielder Paulinho, who Barcelona loaned to Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande.
Barcelona had to move fast to sign Vidal as the player had also reportedly sparked interest from Inter Milan following the departure of their French midfielder Adrien Rabiot.
Temperamental on and off the pitch, Vidal’s last season with Bayern was marked by injuries, including one to his knee which he picked up during training and which forced him to undergo surgery in April.
Vidal is the Barcelona’s fourth signing since the end of the last season following the arrival of Brazilian forward Malcom, Brazilian midfielder Arthur and French defender Clement Lenglet.
The Chilean international joined Bayern Munich in 2015 from Juventus, and won the Bundesliga title in each of his three seasons at the club.
German champions Bayern have been keen to trim their star-studded squad.
Having signed Germany international Leon Goretzka, 23, on a free transfer from Schalke, Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said earlier this week that they had too many midfielders.
MUSA LEAVES LEICESTER
Nigeria forward Ahmed Musa has left Premier League side Leicester for Al-Nassr, the Saudi Arabian club announced on Friday.
The 25-year-old was Leicester’s record signing when he joined the then-English champions for £16 million from CSKA Moscow in 2016, but struggled to make an impact and spent last season back on loan at the Russian team.
“The Al-Nassr club management has finalised the transfer for the star of the Nigerian team and English club Leicester City, Ahmed Musa, on a four-year deal,” the Saudi club wrote on Twitter.
Al-Nassr, who finished third in the Saudi Arabian top flight last season, did not say how much they paid for Musa, who only scored twice in 21 appearances for Leicester.
Musa netted a stunning double at the World Cup in Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Iceland, although the Super Eagles were still knocked out in the group stage.
IWOBI EXTENDS ARSENAL DEAL
Alex Iwobi has signed a new long-term deal at Arsenal, the Premier League club announced on Friday.
Arsenal did not specify the length of the deal for the 22-year-old Nigeria international, who came through the ranks with the Gunners, but reports said it would run until 2023.
Midfielder Iwobi scored three goals in 26 league games under the nowdeparted Arsene Wenger last season.
“It’s always been my childhood dream to represent Arsenal,” he told Arsenal Player. “To get an extended contract is an amazing feeling and I hope I’m doing the Arsenal family proud, as well as my family.”
Iwobi, the nephew of Nigeria great Jay-Jay Okocha, played in three of his country’s matches at the World Cup in Russia.
“I’m very pleased Alex has signed a new contract with us,” said new boss Unai Emery.