When a newspaper mixes their own reports with the coverage of other sources, it’s always hard to know where each piece of information is coming from.
That’s exactly what Chilean outlet La Cuarta have done, as they claim that Manchester United are preparing a bid to take Arturo Vidal from Bayern Munich.
We’ll try to tell the story in the same sequence they do, so just like us, you’ll have the doubt of what is coming from the Chilean sources and what has been written in the English press first.
First it’s claimed that Manchester United have entered the race to sign the Bayern Munich midfielder. His agent, Fernando Felicevich, who also works with Alexis Sanchez, would travel to England to listen the Red Devils’ offer.
That’s where their own claims come. La Cuarta say they’ve learned that United are ready to spend US$60m (£42.5m) on the midfielder, and pay him an yearly salary of US$18m (£12.7m) on a four-year contract. Plus achievement bonuses.
Then come the Chelsea claims, in a different paragraph, and a different subheadline, with no signs that are part of the exclusive.
There it’s said that Manchester United’s offer is as big as Chelsea’s, whose manager Antonio Conte called Vidal in December of last year.
The relationship between manager and player is said to be pretty good, and there would even be a formal offer from the Blues to sign him this summer.
Bayern Munich, who are focused on signing Leon Goretzka from Schalke 04, would have no problems in letting Vidal go when the German player arrives for his place.
Then the claims from the English press come. Both the Daily Star and the Daily Express had stories about Vidal and Manchester United this week, and that’s what La Cuarta use to close their story.
After reading this article, we’d say that all La Cuarta got to know was the offer that is about to come. But funny thing is: the offer, which they make clear was learned by them, is written in a conditional form.
Perhaps strangely, the $18m they say Manchester United would pay in wages is exactly the same figure as they claimed from Chelsea in December.
La Cuarta have been known to pop up with claims like this, before seeing the story disappear, and that should be kept in mind.
