Barcelona ‘cannot afford’ to lose Vidal in January, says Blaugrana president Bartomeu

Ernesto Valverde opened the door for Arturo Vidal to leave Barcelona, but Josep Maria Bartomeu would rather keep hold of the midfielder.

Barcelona “cannot afford” to let unsettled midfielder Arturo Vidal leave the club in January, according to president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Vidal has started just four of Barca’s 20 matches this season and last month vowed to quit the Spanish champions next year if he is not made to “feel important”.

Barca boss Ernesto Valverde has opened the door for the Chile international to find a new team, with Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta recently hinting his side are interested.

However, Bartomeu is expecting Vidal – a reported €18million signing from Bayern Munich in August 2018 – to remain at Camp Nou until at least the end of the season.

“No movement is expected in January,” he told La Repubblica. “We have a balanced squad – we don’t lack anything, but we also cannot afford to lose someone.

“Several times before a player has showed a willingness to leave, but never in January. In some cases we have let them go, on other occasions we have convinced them to stay.”

Barcelona travel to Inter in the Champions League on Tuesday with top spot already assured in Group F, while the Italians need to match Borussia Dortmund’s result against Slavia Prague.

Lautaro Martinez has been in fine form for the Serie A leaders this season, leading to reports he is on Barca’s radar, but Bartomeu was unwilling to comment on the speculation.

“This is a trap question,” he said. “What I can say is that Inter are playing very well and he is not the only player who has impressed me. It is no coincidence that Inter are top of Serie A.”