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Chile's Vidal to Swap Juventus for Bayern

Chilean international midfielder Arturo Vidal is set to join Bayern Munich in the coming days, subject to a medical, according to the German champions' president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Bayern are set to pay around 35 million euros (£24.6m; $38.5m dollars) for the 28-year-old Juventus star who will leave the Italian champions after four successful years.

"I can confirm that there is an agreement between the two parties (Bayern Munich and Juventus). He still needs a medical but if everything goes as planned, he should be training with us next week," said Rummenigge from Bayern's tour of China, according to the SID sports news agency.

It's a return to Germany for Vidal who played for Bayern's Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen for four years from 2007 to 2011, scoring 21 goals in 144 appearances.

Vidal's good form for Leverkusen convinced Italian giants Juventus to pay 10.5 million euros to bring him to Turin, where he earned plaudits for his energetic displays and superb passing skills.

The Chilean scored 48 goals for the Old Lady in 171 appearances, which has persuaded Bayern to part with big money to bring him to the Allianz Arena. 

Bayern manager Pep Guardiola targeted Vidal as a replacement for Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger who left for Manchester United in a 25 million-euro deal last week. 

Vidal, who started his career at Colo Colo in his native Chile, leaves Juventus after a magnificent 2014/15 which saw him win a fourth-straight Serie A title, the Coppa Italia and finish as a runner-up in the Champions League after the final defeat to Barcelona.

He was also a key member of the victorious Chile side which won a first Copa America title earlier this month after beating Argentina in a penalty shootout in Santiago.

Vidal, though, was the center of controversy during the tournament after crashing his Ferrari in the Chilean capital under the influence of alcohol.

The midfielder subsequently avoided a trial but was banned from driving for two years and forced to pay compensation to another driver involved in the crash.  

The former Leverkusen player is currently on holiday in Miami, but is expected to complete his move to five-time European champions Bayern by the end of the week.

He is the fourth big-name player to leave Juventus this summer after the departures of Andrea Pirlo (New York City), Angelo Ogbonna (West Ham United) and Carlos Tevez (Boca Juniors), although the Bianconeri have captured Sami Khedira, Mario Mandzukic, Paulo Dybala and Simone Zaza.

Massimiliano Allegri's men are also reportedly close to signing Schalke's 21-year-old Germany international forward Julian Draxler. 

Vidal will be Bayern's fourth summer signing after the arrivals of Douglas Costa, Joshua Kimmich and Sven Ulreich.

Source: Agence France Presse


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