by ‘Ifreke Inyang

Coach of the Chilean national team, Jorge Sampaoli, has said that Arturo Vidal might have been a Manchester United player by now, if new manager Louis van Gaal didn’t have doubts about his fitness.

Vidal has been heavily linked with a move to United this summer, with speculations indicating that the Old Trafford side are willing to pay up to £47m for his signature.

“I know that the main problem in Vidal’s $80m (£47m) transfer from Juventus to Manchester United is Louis van Gaal’s doubt over the improvement of Arturo’s knee,” Sampaoli told the Chilean publication.

Sampaoli also claimed that Vidal was just “30% or 40%” of the player he was for the Serie A champions last season at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The midfielder underwent knee cartilage surgery at the beginning of May, but was rushed back to feature in Brazil.