Despite a controversial comment, Arturo Vidal traveled with Flamengo to Morocco to play in the Club World Cup

Flamengo, current champion of the Copa Libertadores de América, travels to Morocco this Thursday to play the Club World Cup with Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal under the watchful eye of the ‘crooked’ and the Brazilian press for starring in two controversial actions off the pitch.

The 31-player delegation, led by Portuguese coach Vítor Pereira, will fly to Rabat from Rio de Janeiro’s international airport, the club reported.

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Gabriel Barbosa gabigolEverton Ribeiro, David Luiz, Filipe Luís, Pedro, the Uruguayan Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Vidal lead a squad with no surprises that will debut in the semifinals on Tuesday in the city of Tangier against the winner of the key between Wydad Casablanca (MAR) and Al Hilal (KSA), which collide on Saturday.

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In the other key, Real Madrid awaits the winner between Seattle Sounders (USA) and Al-Ahly (EGY), who will also meet on Saturday.

The most popular club in Brazil will seek its second world title, after winning the missing Intercontinental Cup in 1981, amid criticism for its performance at the beginning of the season and for Vidal’s recent controversies.

The benchmark for the Chilean team has barely played 26 minutes in seven matches in the Rio state tournament (Campeonato Carioca) and the Brazilian Super Cup, which they lost 4-3 against Palmeiras on Saturday.

Before facing Boavista on Wednesday for Carioca (red and black victory 1-0), Vidal, 35, caused discomfort among the fans by showing himself open to an eventual transfer to Colo Colo de Santiago, where he made his professional debut.

“Anything can happen. If Colo Colo wants to fight for the Libertadores, let him come find me, ”he said in a live broadcast on his social networks.

Then, during the game against Boavista, he hit the Maracana bench with his boots when he saw that he was not going to enter.

“It was surprising because Vidal is a consecrated guy, he contributes a lot and he really is a group man. He showed a little dissatisfaction, it was not the best time to show it. But I don’t see a big problem at the moment”, said the captain Everton Ribeiro at the end of the game.

In a message on Instagram, Vidal apologized this Thursday for his “reaction” during the game.

“I know that sometimes my temper gets the better of me. But I have come to Flamengo to be happy and to be part of its history, I know that my conditions are to help my teammates and to be able to continue making good Mengão The greatest of all. I will continue to fight to be there and I will never give up, ”he wrote. (D)