Vidal slams De Paul, threatens: "If I see him, I'll go in hard" | OneFootball

Except for Lionel Messi, with whom he has had a close and respectful relationship since their years together at Barcelona, Arturo Vidal gets along like cats and dogs with several players from the Argentina National Team. Especially with Rodrigo De Paul, who, like him, has a histrionic, outspoken, and provocative personality. Months ago, he had already underestimated him, and now he doubled down and came out swinging.

Unfiltered and sharp-tongued, the experienced Chilean midfielder was interviewed on Enfocados, the laid-back show hosted by Peruvians Jefferson Farfán and Roberto Guizasola, and he wasted no time in tearing down the “Little Engine” of the Scaloneta.

Asked if there was any footballer he didn’t get along with, King Arturo didn’t hesitate: “In the last match against Argentina, with De Paul. I’ve got him there for being cocky.” He even issued a strong threat: “If I run into him, I’ll hit him hard.”

In mid-2025, the National Team visited Chile, won 1-0 in the South American Qualifiers, and both had their own personal duel, with sparks and spicy gestures. At the end of the first half, De Paul went to talk to Vidal and got shoved. They exchanged some words and, laughing, the Argentine made a first gesture with his hands, as if typing on a keyboard, and a second one mimicking a TV, alluding to the fact that Vidal would be watching the World Cup from the comfort of his home.

The grudge stuck with the Colo-Colo leader, and when it came time to choose between his level and that of his “enemy” in the Albiceleste, he made it clear there was no comparison: “You’re joking, right?”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.