Arturo Vidal was an excellent signing for Barcelona, despite criticism to the contrary, and the Chilean is a world-class midfielder who fits Barcelona’s style of play. Vidal is a technical center midfielder who defends and attacks well, and this why Barcelona signed him when they had the chance.
Arturo Vidal is easily one of the very best two-way center midfielders in the world
Many pundits and journalists questioned the signing of the Chilean Number 8 claiming that he didn’t fit the profile of a Barcelona player, but the profile of a Barcelona player is one with outstanding technical ability who plays one-to-two touch soccer. This is exactly how Vidal plays. Any descriptions of Vidal as primarily a toughness player or an athletic player are inaccurate.
Anyone who has seen Vidal play for Chile with Alexis Sanchez and the rest of the squad for the last five years would never doubt Vidal’s ability to play Barcelona’s style of play. The reality is that Barcelona have a history of signing the top South American players, and Vidal is arguably the best box-to-box midfielder in the world, and he even scores a lot of goals for a midfielder.
There’s a myth that only players exactly like Xavi Hernandez or Andrés Iniesta or Sergio Busquerts are Barcelona players, but this isn’t the case. For example, Lionel Messi doesn’t play like those players. Despite being a world-class passer, Messi’s game is primarly based on dribbling past defenders and going straight to goal. Messi doesn’t pass you to death. He attacks the goal relentlessly.
Vidal is exactly the player Barcelona needs to win the Champions League again. He helps Barcelona both in its defending in the midfield and in its passing and attacking play. As good as Ivan Rakitic is, he’s nothing close to Vidal who possesses a level of skill on the ball and athleticism that Rakitic lacks. Vidal’s shooting, scoring, and dead balls bear witness to the Vidal difference. Ever as a penalty taker, the Chilean is known for crushing unstoppable penalties into the upper corner.
There has been a lot of criticism of off the field issues for Vidal, but there’s really no evidence that these have affected his play or that his playing level has dropped from his Juventus days. As a Bayern Munich player, Vidal wasn’t used enough due to Bayern’s tendency to rotate players and even change those same player’s positions.
For all the criticism of Vidal’s character, it’s important to remember that people criticized Diego Maradona, Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho too. Ronaldinho was essentially run out of Barcelona and tossed overboard for supposedly being fat, but even today several years into retirement Ronaldinho looks trim and his weight appears essentially the same as when he played.
As well as Paulinho played last season, Vidal should play even better as he is a level above Paulinho in his technical skill and defending. Vidal should prove to be not only a Barcelona style player but also a standout and reference point for the Catalan giants.