Beach volleyball, meetings and an eye in Italy: the frenetic days of Arturo Vidal in Rio de Janeiro

Arturo Vidal arrived in Rio de Janeiro as a true rockstar. Already at Galeao airport, the expectation of his arrival was total. Hundreds of onlookers and dozens of journalists, cameramen and photographers, in addition to onlookers who raised their cell phones, tried to register the arrival of the Chilean leaflet. A poster was also waiting for him. “Vidal, new crack of naçao “, he said, in a message of affection, but that sums up the expectations for his signature. Everything that followed can be defined as an understatement. The king arrived in Rio de Janeiro as a guest , but strictly speaking he wasn’t. He was designed as a reinforcement for Flamengo, but he wasn’t either. And he was going to visit the city that would welcome him in one of the last stages of his career, but he did not know since when.

“I’m glad to be here. We are in talks. Now I go to the stadium as a Flamengo fan and I hope they win “, he said, on his arrival, to try not to cause problems for Inter Milan, which, formally, is still his employer. The truth is that Vidal didn’t return to Rio, where he already played in the 2014 World Cup, on vacation: he was going to visit his new home. And he did so accompanied by his chief advisers and affections: his best friend, Carlos Aliaga, was joined by his representative, Fernando Felicevich. Each had specific missions in the operation. The first, to help the footballer find the place where he is going to live. The second, to refine the contractual conditions of the agreement which will make him the best paid player of the Brasileirao: contract of 18 months, at the rate of 4 million American dollars per year and bonuses of objectives. . A luxury that only Brazilian teams can afford on this side of the world and, most likely, the last big contract of the double champion of the Americas in his career. The other is pending: the settlement with Inter, which could earn him an additional $4 million. This latest payment forced him to have his eyes on Italy, as the agreed value has yet to be cancelled.

Vidal is received king. Or as King, alluding to the nickname that marked his career. He has already been able to enjoy the affection of Mengao fans, who applauded him when they noticed his presence in the stands of the Maracana, which he attended to watch the duel between Flamengo and Tolima, for the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores. . There were songs in his honor and, again, a swarm of cell phones pointed in his direction. Vice-president of the Rio de Janeiro club’s football division, Marcos Braz, acted as host. Vidal already felt at home. And the victory of the rubo-preto team added a key element so that his presentation in society, halfway through the formalization of his separation from Inter Milan, became a celebration.

The good experiences did not stop there, as Vidal visited some attractions in Rio and, as if he were a conventional tourist, shared on his networks the most paradisiacal postcards of his trip. However, it wasn’t all entertainment or fun. Always concerned about maintaining his physical condition, The footballer was seen jogging through the streets of the exclusive sector of Barra da Tijuca, where he will settle down once the paperwork is completed, with a summer outfit, depending on the temperature of the place, and enough indifferent to the presence of the press. and the curious who followed him. His only precaution that day was to cover his head with the hood of the sweatshirt he was wearing.

He was also responsible for going to the gym and performing the exercise routines that keep him in shape, to join the training sessions of Brazil’s most popular team as soon as possible. YesFinally, in one of the activities that attracted the most attention, on Saturday he reached the beach and took part in some futvoley matches. Instead, Aliaga and Felicevich accompanied him again. The trio posed with those who participated in the encounter.

Recognition days ended on Sunday. By obligation, of course. Vidal had to return to Italy to officially end his relationship with Inter, a sine qua non and essential condition for him to formalize the link with Fla. Without this agreement, he will not be able to sign, let alone his debut for his new club.

In Brazil, they hope that this procedure will go smoothly. The delays, at least, should not jeopardize the King’s signature. In the Brasileirao the pass book opens July 18 , reason why only after that day can appear in the local championship. The schedule offers two options for the midfielder’s debut, should the negotiations with Inter end in the best way: could play against Juventude on July 20 or during the visit to Avaí on July 24.

What is beyond doubt is the optimal physical condition in which the Chilean team will arrive, which throughout its career has been characterized by great attention to this aspect. Neither does football adaptation: as the fans who have gone to receive him have written, Vidal is considered a crack, who, in addition, has overcome several barriers, including language, in his career. And real cracks rarely need time to take on and get used to their new challenges.