Bayern Leverkusen signse Chilean defender Vidal
The Associated Press
Published: April 28, 2007
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SANTIAGO, Chile:
Teenage Chile defender Arturo Vidal will move from Colo Colo to German club Bayern Leverkusen in a deal valued at US$7.7 million (€5.6 million).
Colo Colo manager Gabriel Ruiz-Tagle on Friday described the transfer price as "the highest in Chilean soccer history," considering that Bayern Leverkusen bought only 70 percent of the rights over the player. Colo Colo retains the other 30 percent.
Vidal's total value was agreed at US$11 millions (€8 millions). He will play for Bayern Leverkusen for four years.
"I never thought this would come so soon, but it did," Vidal, 19, said after the transfer was confirmed. "Now, it's up to me to take advantage of this opportunity."
Vidal will go to Germany after playing either the America Cup in Venezuela or the under-20 World Cup in Canada, both in July. He has been summoned to the two national squads and a decision has yet to be made where he will play.
Vidal was incorporated only last year to Colo Colo's national team and has played only 32 first division matches, but was a key figure in the Chilean U20 squad that won a berth for the Canada World Cup. In spite of being a defender, he scored six goals in six matches.
The previous highest transfer in Chilean soccer was US$9 millions (€6.5 millions) paid by Villarreal of Spain for midfielder Matias Fernandez last year.