Arturo Vidal is increasingly likely to leave Inter and could be headed for Ligue 1, according to a report in the Italian media today.
FcInterNews.it revealed the midfielder’s agent Fernando Felicevich was in talks with Marseille over personal terms for a potential deal in the summer.
Vidal is under contract with Inter until 2022, but the Nerazzurri would be more than happy to offload his annual salary – worth more than €6 million – after a disappointing season.
Marseille’s new head coach Jorge Sampaoli has already coached Vidal with Chile’s national team and would be very pleased with a reunion.
Vidal has interest from Galatasaray but the midfielder is reportedly not interested in moving to Turkey, which makes Marseille his most likely destination.
His agent Felicevich recently stated in public that the 33-year-old was happy at Inter, but he is aware of the Nerazzurri’s financial problems and is looking to reach an agreement with Marseille.
Marseille could never offer Vidal the same salary he is getting at Inter, but Vidal would accept a two-year deal worth €4 million per season.
Inter wouldn’t ask for a transfer fee as part of the deal, just as they didn’t have to pay Barcelona to sign the Chilean international last summer (although they are now due to pay the La Liga side €1 million after winning the Serie A title).
Inter will be obliged to cut costs in the summer to combat the financial implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, and – in addition to offloading their highest earners – another of the measures is to release players who are out of contract.
Ashley Young, Aleksandar Kolarov, Daniele Padelli, Andrea Ranocchia and Danilo D’Ambrosio could therefore all join Vidal in leaving Inter, the report explained.
