What could Arturo Vidal bring to Manchester United?

Date: 30th August 2014 at 3:01am
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It’s rumoured that if Manchester United are successful in bringing Chilean International Arturo Vidal to Old Trafford he will form the crux of a new-look midfield.

If that is the case, the 27 year old will join a legacy that has seen the likes of Bryan Robson and Roy Keane dominate sides throughout England, and while his style of play may not be as easy on the eye as that of some of his predecessors, the Juventus man may well prove to be one of the club’s most important signings of all time.

The need to rebuild

After a relatively disastrous seventh place finish in 2013-14, United are third favourites at 5.90 with Betfair to win the Premier League next season. The club have already been busy over the summer with the signings of Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera but new manager Louis Van Gaal still has key areas that need strengthening.

The loss of Rio Ferdinand, together with Nemanja Vidic mean that a new centre half is imperative while a player of Vidal’s capability will bring some much needed ‘steel’ to the middle of the park.

What he brings

Arturo Vidal has been described by some as the perfect all round player but outside of Juve and the Chilean national team, casual observers are only really aware of his strength in the tackle. The midfielder leads the way at Juventus with an average of 5.4 successful challenges every game and that’s certainly an area where Manchester United struggled last season.

However, one of the most surprising stats involving the player reveals a goal scoring ratio in Turin which is better than one every four games – and this is in a league where the defensive emphasis is far greater than the one that exists in the Premiership. Once again, this is an area where Vidal will be of huge benefit to Louis Van Gaal and Manchester United.

In 2013-14, United’s centre line provided little support to the main strikers with Marouane Fellaini the chief culprit. Signed by his former Everton boss David Moyes, the Belgian international failed to find the net for his new club after returning a respectable scoring record at Goodison Park.

Ashley Young and others brought further disappointment and while Vidal would never be as prolific as someone like Marco Reus, his own return at Juve would be immensely useful at Old Trafford next season.

The beast

Vidal’s passing stats are also worth taking into account. At present, Michael Carrick is perceived to be the best passer of a ball at Old Trafford but his completion average of 87.8% is identical to that of the Chilean in Serie A. He is also adept at dribbling and if forced out wide, the midfielder is deadly accurate with crosses from either flank.

Aturo Vidal may therefore have some surprising attributes but his main qualities are his strength and stamina and they will surely endear him to United supporters. At the risk of using footballing cliché’s the player has an amazing engine and his energy will give the squad a lift as they battle to recover from a disappointing 2013-14.

Vidal is just one of a number of reported targets for Van Gaal and with the new season less than two weeks away, the Dutchman has to act fast to get the side he wants from the very first whistle. A central defender, a back up centre forward and a winger seem vital to the club’s plans for the new campaign but when you consider Arturo Vidal’s qualities and his stats, his arrival is likely to be seen as the most important acquisition of all.

 

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