Chilean star Arturo Vidal recently guested on former Peruvian international Jefferson Farfán's podcast, "Enfocados." During which, Vidal unhesitatingly ranked himself above a host of legendary midfielders.
When asked if he thought he was better than the top midfielders of his era, Vidal answered confidently and decisively. Speaking about Sergio Busquets, he admitted: "He is the best number 5, but I can do everything, which makes me stronger."
Speaking of Xabi Alonso, the former Juventus star was also unabashed: "I am stronger than Alonso. His long shots were excellent, but he used to call me 'boss,' that's me - Arturo Vidal." This statement quickly caused whispers of astonishment from the guests, as Alonso has long been considered one of the top European midfielders of his era.
Not only Alonso, Vidal even thinks he is better than Casemiro, despite the Brazilian midfielder having won countless honors at Real Madrid.
When Farfán asked who was stronger, Alonso or Casemiro, Vidal replied without hesitation: "No, of course it's me - Arturo Vidal." He added with a laugh: "I am confident on the field, and I really like that sense of security."
Vidal emphasized his all-around ability: "Really, I can do everything. On the field, I do everything well. Whether it's attacking, defending, tackling, challenging for headers, I can do it all, and I can also score headers. My teammates attack, and I defend, I jump up and challenge for headers, I score goals."
He also recalled his experiences against Barca, Real Madrid, and Bayern: "Whether at the Camp Nou or other stadiums, I was tough and strong, letting my opponents know who was dominating the field."
However, the most shocking thing was Vidal's comparison of himself to legendary star Andrea Pirlo. He said: "I am also stronger than Pirlo. He is a legend, an extraordinary player, but I am perfect. I can attack, defend, tackle, challenge for headers, score headers, and cross. To compete with that level of player, you have to be perfect. And there's a reason why Pirlo let me take penalties."
Vidal's strong words immediately sparked heated discussions on social media. While his career has been brilliant and full of honors, the Chilean midfielder has received a lot of criticism for his somewhat arrogant and emotional expressions.
In the past, Vidal has played for Leverkusen, Juventus, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan. He currently plays for Colo-Colo in the Chilean National League.