The incredible resurrection of King Arturo at the age of 39 / Messi's enemy at the age of 39, the best defender of South America

The transformation of the midfield warrior into the best defender on the South African continent is what happened to Arturo Vidal in Chile.

According to Sports Three, veteran Chilean football star Arturo Vidal has flourished in a completely new position after returning to the Chilean club Colocolo. His brilliance is not only descriptive, but in recent days, reliable statistical institutions have introduced Arturo Vidal as the best central defender in South America.

The tireless and passionate star, who won many trophies at the highest level of European football for years with Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Inter, and was the main pillar of Chile's consecutive championships in the Copa America, at the age of 39, has shown an amazing story of continuity in professional football.

After spells in Brazilian football with Flamengo and Atletico Paranaense, Vidal returned to his boyhood club Colocolo in early 2024. A noisy return, which, contrary to what many people thought, was not for a quiet and symbolic retirement, but for conveying the spirit of excellence and leadership of the young generation of this team.

The turning point of this dream comeback was the tactical decision of Fernando Ortiz, the head coach of the team. By moving Vidal to the defensive line and using him as a central defender in a three-back system, Ortiz took advantage of his tenacity, high intelligence in positioning, and exceptional accuracy in making plays from the back of the field to cover the aging star's slow pace.

This role change has been so successful that the CIS football observatory chose Arturo Vidal as the best central defender in the entire South American continent with a score of 80.1 out of 100. This stunning score puts him ahead of notable figures such as Boca Juniors' Lottaro Di Lolo, Flamingo's Leo Ortiz and even Nicolas Otamendi.

Of course, this rejuvenating of Vidal was not without its sidelines, and Vidal's extreme interest in the virtual space has raised the voices of some well-known figures. His constant activity on streaming platforms and direct and online comments about football issues of the day have drawn criticism from traditional experts, including former Chile national team coach Claudio Borghi. Borghi said in this regard that the presence of a working football player in the world of streaming and watching matches online while his teammates are at the dinner table is a rare and unusual behavior, even though the club has given him such permission.

Despite these margins, Vidal's technical quality on the field has left no room for doubt. Argentinian head coach Ortiz said about the future of his star, whose contract expires next June: "I hope Arturo never hangs up his boots, because he is a great player whose name is not only linked to the history of this club, but also a great credit to Chilean football in the international arena. When a piece of this magnitude leaves, his void in football will not be filled. "He is a heavy weight on the field and in our dressing room."

Vidal himself said about the uncertainty of the contract extension and the possibility of saying goodbye at the end of the season: "I have no anxiety and I preferred to remain silent, because I was not happy with some issues, but I am completely calm. The player who according to statistics is the best defender in South America has no reason to worry. I'm very happy with what I'm doing and I hope we can celebrate by winning two championships at the end of the year. I would be happy if the opportunity to continue working together arises, but for now I am enjoying my current situation to the fullest."