Arturo Vidal breaks silence after shock Aston Villa transfer claims

Inter Milan midfielder Arturo Vidal has been discussing his future plans after claims that Aston Villa were interested in making a move for the Chilean international.

It was reported in February that Villa were among a quartet of clubs keen on signing Vidal, who is out of contract at the end of the season at the San Siro. Italian publication Calciomercato claimed that Marseille, Tottenham Hotspur and Galatasaray were also keen on landing Vidal.

Vidal, 34, is unlikely to be a target for Villa simply because of his age and the wages he would command being a free transfer. However, he is still a quality player and has top-level experience thanks to his stints at Bayern Munich, Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen and Barcelona.

His preference is to see out his career with Brazilian giants Flamengo. "The European chapter can be closed," he told Chilean media outlet TNT Sports.

"I don't know if it is time, but if it happens, my goal is very clear: win everything with Flamengo, fight for the Copa Libertadores, which is a dream because it is like the Champions League in Europe. "If I go, it's to keep fighting and be an important player."

"I have the dream of playing there, I cannot deny it. "When it happens, I will go there.

"Hopefully it will be soon, if the coach or the leaders want me, there will be a rapprochement and I will do everything possible to get there." Villa are going to be in the market for a defensive midfielder when the summer transfer window opens with Kalvin Phillips and Yves Bissouma linked with a move to Steven Gerrard 's side.

Gerrard has been without first-choice defensive midfielder Marvelous Nakamba, who is out with a knee injury, with Douglas Luiz filling in at the base of Villa's midfield. Villa's