Understanding Juventus' Change of Heart in Decision to Sell Arturo Vidal

Over the past four seasons, Juventus supporters have had more reasons to celebrate than any other fanbase in Italy, cheering on their team as it won the Serie A title in each of those campaigns. Their recent dominance culminated in this year’s domestic double, with a first Champions League final appearance in over a decade thrown in for good measure.

Next summer, however, the Bianconeri faithful could be forgiven for being overcome by a foreboding sense of dread when July 15 rolls around. That date in 2014 saw Antonio Conte walk out on the club unexpectedly, with the club forced to look on helplessly as the man at the centre of their resurrection simply decided to quit.

Massimiliano Allegri was appointed as his successor, the former Milan coach ensuring the Old Lady never skipped a beat, and—bolstered by the arrivals of Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic and Sami Khedira—supporters had even come to see the departures of Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez as somewhat acceptable.

Yet the fateful day this year brought bad news once again, as a story emerged that Arturo Vidal was close to completing a move to German club Bayern Munich. Chilean newspaper La Cuarta first reported that the Juventus midfielder had told his family about the imminent transfer, with Sky Italia and La Gazzetta dello Sport adding details as the hours passed (h/t Football Italia).

Marco Vasini/Associated Press

While Bayern coach Pep Guardiola insisted he was “not the right person” to comment on the matter at a press conference in China, per Mark Rodden of ESPN FC, by Friday it seemed a deal was all but finalised. Writing on his own website, Italian transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio reported that the two clubs had agreed a fee of €37 million plus €3 million in bonuses in exchange for the 28-year-old star.

It happened extremely quickly, reflective of both the Bavarian side’s no-nonsense approach and the fact they had both money to spend and a hole in their squad following the sale of Bastian Schweinsteiger to Manchester United earlier in the week.

There is some concern over quite how Vidal—who is far from a typical Guardiola midfielder—will fit the Catalan coach’s philosophy at the Allianz Arena. Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wilson discussed that question in fine detail, but it is one that falls way down the list of questions being asked by Juventus supporters still reeling from the news.

After all, just a week before the link to Bayern Munich emerged, the Italian club had rubbished talk of Vidal leaving for Arsenal or Real Madrid. Director General Beppe Marotta went so far as to tell Tuttosport that such rumours were “utopic,” (h/t ESPN FC) reassuring fans that the midfielder they refer to as “King Arturo" would remain in Turin for 2015/16.

That is seemingly no longer the case, adding to what has already been a tumultuous summer for a player who led Chile to their first-ever international trophy, lifting the Copa America on home soil following a penalty shootout in the final against Argentina.

Ricardo Mazalan/Associated Press

Earlier in the tournament, Vidal was arrested and charged with a drink-driving offence, leading to a court appearance and subsequently seeing his license taken away, per beIN Sports. He apologised publicly, but it is perhaps that incident—which went unpunished by his national team—and ongoing concerns over his surgically repaired knee that have led to a different stance by Juventus.

It remains to be seen whether or not the player asked to be transferred, or if the Bianconeri simply decided his value—both financially and in terms of on-field production—would only plummet from this point onward.

As Allegri prepares the team for its push for a record-equalling fifth consecutive Serie A title, what matters now is that the club finds a way to overcome what will be the loss of an immensely talented player.