The Chile coach has insisted the main reason the 27-year-old has not left Juventus for Old Trafford yet is due to the new manager’s concerns over his recovery from knee surgery
Louis van Gaal is holding up Manchester United’s purchase of Arturo Vidal due to concerns over the Juventus star’s right knee, according to Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli.
Vidal underwent surgery in May in the hope of fixing a persistent meniscus injury once and for all, with his fitness subsequently hampered during the World Cup.
Goal understands Vidal met with his agent and senior officials in July to discuss the possibility of a transfer to Old Trafford and Sampaoli says the reason no transfer has been completed is down to Van Gaal.
“Manchester United want Vidal, but Van Gaal has some doubts,” Sampaoli told El Mercurio.
“Right now the great obstacle to his $80 million [£47m] transfer from Juventus to Manchester United is over the improvement of Arturo’s knee.
“Vidal set a great example at the World Cup in Brazil by playing when he wasn’t in perfect shape.”
United have been chasing Vidal for much of the summer, with Juventus chief executive Giuseppe Marotta adamant the Chile star would only be sold if he expressed a desire to leave Turin.
Vidal, himself, has previously insisted he is “not going to Manchester”, while new Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri has ruled out an exit following the player’s return to pre-season training.
