Andres Iniesta has recently leapt in Arturo Vidal’s defense.
“He is very capable of playing for a team like Barcelona. Teams have to look for variability,” he told Canal de Futbol de Chile. “He is a great player, that’s nothing new.”
The suitability of the Chilean to the way of playing in Barcelona is often questioned, but the iconic former Blaugrana midfielder believes Vidal has a lot to give to the squad:
“He is a fundamental part of the teams he has played for and the national team.
“There are many opinions about the style of Barcelona, but a great player like him obviously has a place.
“He has shown it and has always contributed with his qualities.
“Arturo covers a lot of ground. He goes forward a lot, tracks back. He links up well and is a very physically strong player.”
Iniesta left when Vidal arrived at Camp Nou in 2018 but during his long career in Barcelona, like Claudio Bravo and Alexis Sanchez, he has played with many prominent Chileans.
“He left a great memory in the seasons he was there,” Iniesta said of Bravo. “He was a wall.”
On Sanchez, Iniesta also recalled positive aspects: “He is a striker who has splendid qualities in one-on-one battles and is very fast.”
