Italian giants Inter have made Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal their primary transfer objective for this summer, say reports.
Marca cite a report in La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that the midfielder is who Nerazzurri boss Antonio Conte has specifically request.
It follows a similar report in Gazzetta dello Sport reiterates Inter boss Conte has highlighted the central midfield area for strengthening this coming window.
The Chilean midfielder has started just two matches this season for the Blaugrana and played little over 250 minutes across the entirety of the campaign to date.
Vidal is said to be unhappy at his playing time at Barcelona and could be open to a January move to Conte’s side, while the same is true for Matic – even if only one is likely to join.
“Interest from Inter? I lived very nice moments with Antonio Conte,” Vidal admitted in an interview with Chilean outlet El Mercurio earlier this week, as cited by Marca.
“The quality leap I enjoyed was thanks to him. In football the most important thing is trust and when a Coach of that prestige gives it to you, then you improve a lot.”
Vidal also spoke of the Blaugrana’s recent form: “We are not playing as well as everyone expects. Against Slavia Prague it was a complicated game, for example. In La Liga it cost us much more, the rivals hurt us more.
“Barcelona is the best team in the world and when they concede goals match after match, people start talking and the players themselves feel strange because they are used to winning.
“I am not happy, I am not happy. All my career I have started and this season I have not been. I am working to turn it over and win the position. I know it will come.”
Last week, Calciomercato cited Gazzetta dello Sport as reporting that the central midfielder could now join the Milanese club this January, along with Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic.
In August, a report in FcInterNews claimed that the Nerazzurri had received positive signals from the Catalan giants over the summer months over a possible move and that Vidal himself is open to the move.
The Chilean looked set for Inter last summer until the Blaugrana swooped in late to sign him from Bayern Munich.
Vidal, has previously consistently reiterated his desire to stay at the Camp Nou – where he played an important role in winning the title last season.
However, the arrival of Dutch international Frenkie De Jong at the club has pushed him further down the pecking order in Ernesto Valverde's side, and Inter boss Antonio Conte is waiting to make an offer should he look to move on from Catalonia.
With two years still to run on his contract, Vidal will not be a cheap option, and the Blaugrana are likely to demand in the region of €25m for the 32-year old, if Conte wants to be reunited with the player he won three league titles with at Juventus.
“I would follow him everywhere, even in war,” he was once quoted as saying about the Coach.
