Rome (AFP)

Inter Milan formalized on Tuesday the transfer of Chilean international midfielder Arturo Vidal, who left FC Barcelona in full slimming to find Serie A and coach Antonio Conte, who had already led to Juventus.

"He arrived, he is in Milan and he is at Inter. Welcome Arturo!" Writes the Italian club in a statement, without specifying the duration of the 33-year-old Chilean's contract.

"El Rey Arturo" ("King Arthur") arrived in Milan on Sunday evening to finalize his medical visit and his signing with the reigning Italian vice-champion.

Antonio Conte wanted at all costs to find his Chilean warrior, whose four seasons at Juventus - including three under Conte, the last with Massimiliano Allegri - ended with four titles of champion of Italy (2012 to 2015).

The Milan coach had already tried to bring Vidal to Inter a year ago, then during the winter transfer window.

With Arturo Vidal, Conte intends to build a strong midfield to bring consistency to a team whose stated goal is to end Juve's streak of nine consecutive titles.

Inter may not have finished their market in this sector, because Antonio Conte would not have given up on the idea of ​​finding another of his former Chelsea protégés, the Frenchman N'Golo Kanté.

- Barcelona degreases -

Vidal, a warrior in the midfield, recognizable by his black crest, was among the players announced as not part of the projects of the new Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman, like Ivan Rakitic, Samuel Umtiti or Luis Suarez.

With the Chilean who had one year of contract left, Barça relieves itself of a new large salary from its workforce, in the midst of a sporting and institutional crisis.

The Blaugrana club, which had recruited him in 2018 for 18 million euros according to the Spanish media, will receive 1 million euros in variable elements from Inter for this transfer, he said in a statement.

As of Sunday evening, Lionel Messi had greeted his ex-teammate on Instagram.

"It's been two years during which we shared a lot of things (...). You'll miss you, I wish you the best in this new stage, in your new club. We will meet again, that's for sure" .

With the Chilean, known for his harshness in duels and his taste for combat, Conte will be able to count on a vengeful player, even if he comes out of a mixed season in La Liga.

Last season was the first without a league title for Vidal in eight years.

Before Barcelona, ​​with whom he was Spanish champion in 2019, the player had made the heyday of Bayern Munich where he had added three German league titles to his list (2016 to 2018).

In the Bundesliga he also played in Leverkusen (2007-2011).

© 2020 AFP