ARTURO Vidal reportedly stormed out of Barcelona training yesterday after learning he wouldn’t be starting against Real Madrid.
The Chilean midfielder usually stays behind after training for shooting practice with other first-teamers but allegedly left early after being told by Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde he would be on the bench for El Clasico.
Arturo Vidal stormed out of training yesterday ahead of El Clasico, amidst speculation about his future.Credit: AP:Associated Press
Coach Ernesto Valverde told the Barca players the starting lineup, and had left the Chile international on the substitutes’ bench, according to ESPN.
They claim the manager is starting with his favoured trio of Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic and Frenkie de Jong.
Several players tried to calm Vidal down but he would not listen to them and stormed off, the report says.
Vidal, 32, has been the subject of much transfer speculation this season, with Valverde doing little to quell speculation when speaking earlier this month.
“Vidal is our player,” he said. “We are happy with him.”
“There are so many rumours and when the January transfer window arrives, we will see what happens.
“There’s a lot of things going on in January but it’s true that we have a lot of midfielders.”
Club officials fear this snub could push Vidal to look for a move in next month’s transfer window.
Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte reportedly keen on a reunion with the midfield enforcer who he managed at Juventus.
Inter are believed to have held informal talks with Barca last week ahead of the Champions League clash between the sides.
But the Spanish champions were adamant he would be going nowhere in mid-season unless they receive an offer too good to turn down.
Arturo Vidal in action for Barcelona against Real Sociedad last weekendCredit: Getty – Contributor
Vidal, who joined the Blaugrana from Bayern Munich in 2018, has started just five matches across all competitions this season but has four goals to his name in La Liga, including a late winner against Leganes last month.
He currently finds himself down the pecking order, with Rakitic and De Jong preferred either side of Busquets in Barca’s midfield three in recent matches.
Lionel Messi and co face Real Madrid at the Camp Nou tonight at 7pm UK time.
How Barcelona are set to line up for El Clasico
Real are set to refresh their attack on Wednesday
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
