Arturo Vidal takes on a captain's role on and off the pitch at Barca
The Chilean has grown into life at the club and is now an important player for Valverde
It has taken Arturo Vidal less than eight months to be at Barca what he has always been in world football, a leader on and off the pitch. The Chilean had a turbulent landing, and was impatient for a lack of game time, and he doesn’t take well to being a secondary actor. But he has grown at Barca, especially physically, and was one of the best players in the 4-4 draw at Villarreal on Tuesday.
Vidal has been convincing for several months now. He has played well when subbed on in important games, gaining the confidence of Valverde.
He needs continuity to stay at his best. It took him a while to get to this point but now he’s flying.
It’s no coincidence that Valverde has started him in eight of the last 10 league games, keeping him on for 90 minutes in three of them. Until this point he has played that length of time in just three other games in 26 weeks.
He takes control, shouting at Umtiti, remonstrating with his team-mates for not stopping the counter for Villarreal’s first goal.
And Ter Stegen looked for him when trying to sort out the team’s imbalances, rather than another player.
Vidal was booked against Villarreal and banned for the Atletico game, meaning he will be fresh to play at Old Trafford. With Arthur not at his best, Dembele still out and Coutinho consumed by apathy, the chances of Vidal stating in Manchester are growing.
He could play in midfield with Busquets and Rakitic with the reborn alcove included with Suarez and Messi up front, if Dembele is not back.
