Wednesday, 5th November, 2014
Juventus CEO Giuseppe Marotta has revealed that injury concerns played a part in Arturo Vidal staying put at the club this summer.
Vidal was at the centre of a transfer saga throughout the summer window, with Manchester United keen on securing his signature and the Chile midfielder himself thought desperate to head to Old Trafford.
However, with a knee injury having troubled Vidal at the World Cup, Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli claimed that the player's fitness was preventing a switch to Manchester United.
And as the transfer window closed Vidal was still in Turin, with Juventus insisting they had always wanted to keep hold of the former Bayer Leverkusen man.
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But Marotta admits that Vidal's injury did influence him remaining in Italy with the Serie A champions. Indeed, the midfielder has been dogged by injury concerns in recent months, which Marotta claims have not yet cleared up.
"The injury influenced his departure, even now he doesn't have the best physical condition", the CEO was quoted as saying by Tutto Mercato.
"For our part, however, there is the clear desire to keep him because we renewed his contract", Marotta added.
Vidal has consistently again been linked with Manchester United throughout the season, while he angered Juventus by heading out late before a clash with Roma.
It has been suggested the Bianconeri are open to offers for Vidal, but in public the club maintain their desire to keep the midfielder.
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