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Bayern Munich signs Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal from Juventus

Xinhua, July 29, 2015 Adjust font size:

After a long back and forth, Bayern Munich on Tuesday officially unveiled the signing of Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal from Juventus.

The departure of veteran midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger to Premier League side Manchester United forced the German record champions to bolster their midfield. Thus, Bayern Munich snapped up Arturo Vidal, who penned a four-year deal until June 2019. Vidal's contract includes an option to add another year at Bayern.

"Arturo Vidal is a physically strong, technically gifted and tactically flexible player that embodies a born winner. We are very happy and satisfied that he wears our jersey," Bayern Munich's sporting director Matthias Sammer told an official press conference.

Vidal is a familiar face in the Bundesliga as he already played four years for Bayer Leverkusen to score 15 goals in 117 appearances. He joined Italian giants Juventus in 2011 to win four Italian Championships and the Italian Cup once. He donated overall 35 goals in 124 games for Juventus.

The 28-year-old midfielder is since 2007 part of Chile's national team where he collected 12 goals in 69 caps. He was furthermore part of Chile's squad when they lifted the 44th edition of the Copa America in July, after beating Argentina 4-1 on penalties on home soil.

"For me a dream has come true. I want to evolve as a player and to win important titles like the Champions League. I see these possibilities at most with Bayern," Vidal, who received the jersey number 23, said.

The "Bavarians" kick off the Bundesliga season 2015-2016 against Hamburg on Aug. 14. Prior to the Bundesliga opener, Bayern encounter Wolfsburg at the Supercup, where the Bundesliga titleholders face the German Cup winners, on Aug. 1.

"I am ready to play this Saturday, but, the head coach decides who makes it into the team," the new arrival said. Endi