Chilean footballer Arturo Vidal arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday to negotiate with Brazil’s most popular team, Flamengo, in order to join its ranks by the end of 2023.
“I am happy to be here… We are in talks now,” Vidal told reporters at the airport after being greeted by representatives of the Brazilian club and dozens of fans.
Vidal said he would attend the match between Flamengo and Deportes Tolima of Colombia at the Maracanã stadium in the second leg of the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores (7-1).
“I will watch the match as a fan. I hope (Flamingo) will qualify,” said the Chilean, who will wear a South American jersey for the first time after fifteen years in Europe.
Media reported that Vidal will undergo a medical examination on Thursday and then travel to Italy to cut ties with Inter Milan.
Vidal (35 years old) played for the Chilean national team at the World Cups in South Africa (2010) and Brazil (2014), twice won the America’s Cup with him in 2015 and 2016.
Vidal started his football career with Chilean club Colo Colo (2005-2007) and later played in the old continent with Bayer Leverkusen (2007-2011), Bayern Munich (2015-2018), Juventus (2011-2015) ) and Inter (since 2020). , Italians and Barcelona, Spain (2018-2020).
