Arturo Vidal Says Posts Not Aimed at Barcelona, Denies Ernesto Valverde Rift

Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal has conceded he's not happy with the amount of playing time he's been given by manager Ernesto Valverde but said recent social media messages were not aimed at the club or his boss. 

The Chile international came on to play only a few minutes of Barca's 4-2 UEFA Champions League defeat of Tottenham Hotspur last week and posted an angry emoji online. However, he said the two were not connected, per Marca:

"I am not happy, but if I have a problem with the coach I will say it to his face.

"How am I going to be happy if I don't play, and me of all people. I am someone that has always fought, that has been in the best teams in the world, that has won everything and who wants to continue winning at Barcelona.

"I am fine physically and happy. In the past few games I have been a little irritated but that's how it is, we will keep battling. There are a lot of important games ahead and we will see."

Another since-deleted post from Vidal read "you don't fight with Judases as they hang themselves." However, Vidal said he took the post down as it was being scrutinised too much, adding it was "nothing to do with anything sporting."

Sport reported Barcelona team-mate Marc-Andre ter Stegen and former Bayern comrade James Rodriguez were among those who liked the post before it was removed.

Football Espana provided a look at the angry emoji post:

Valverde responded to the speculation by saying he was unaware of any grievances the player had, per Goal's Joe Wright: "We're a team. He hasn't told me anything. I don't know if he's angry about the game or about a domestic accident."

His impact was expected to be much greater after the club decided to let Paulinho rejoin Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande, but the former Juventus and Bayern Munich general has instead been a background figure.

The 31-year-old notched an assist in his first start for the club—a disappointing 2-2 draw against Girona—but has been held back by Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic and Philippe Coutinho, who has settled into midfield.

The Blaugrana also agreed a deal in March to sign Brazilian Arthur Melo from Gremio. The 22-year-old has made only seven appearances to Vidal's nine but has 321 minutes on the field this term, which is almost double that of his fellow South American (176).

Even at 31, Vidal seemed like a valuable recruit for the fairly modest reported transfer fee of €18 million. It was only six months ago Tifo Football spoke of the Chilean—at the time still of Bayern—as arguably the most well-balanced midfielder in the world:

But Valverde's rather sparse use of the player suggests he doesn't feel the same way. 

Alongside Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Gerard Pique, Vidal is one of the most experienced players in the Barcelona squad at 31. Only Thomas Vermaelen, 32, is older than that quartet.

However, with fresher legs in the squad and his new manager seemingly taking his time to warm to the summer signing, Vidal could find his hopes for more playing time go unanswered.