Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal was back at Bayern Munich training on Thursday after leaving the Chilean national team for reported "personal problems" and returning to Germany on Wednesday.
The Bayern Munich star implored reporters on Wednesday to stop "making things up" and denied rumours out of Chile that his departure from the national team for Saturday's friendly against Paraguay was down to disciplinary reasons.
He posted a picture on his Twitter account on Thursday along with Bayern strength and conditioning coach Dr. Holger Broich.
Buen entrenamiento con mi amigo el Dr. Holger Broich, en mejor preparador fisico de Alemania! pic.twitter.com/9phGiyhCEK
- Arturo Vidal (@kingarturo23) September 3, 2015
Pep Guardiola's club has the weekend off due to the FIFA date and Chile is scheduled to play in Santiago. Bayern Munich resume Bundesliga play on Sept. 12 when they host Augsburg.
The Chilean federation on Tuesday sent a short news release that did not detail the reasons for Vidal's departure, citing only "personal problems."
Chile media reports had initially said that Vidal's son, who has diabetes, was having health issues, however, Chilevision showed images on Tuesday night of Vidal having dinner with friends in Santiago while newspaper El Mercurio published reports that Vidal was seen in the casino. The newspaper also cited unnamed sources that said that coach Jorge Sampaoli had issued an ultimatum to his star player.
On Wednesday before his return to Germany, Vidal told reporters: "Of course I am upset because you are dirtying my image and I think that I am playing on one of the best teams in the world and this affects me a lot.
"I would prefer it if you would be more kind to me in Chile, but some people just want to drag me through the mud."
Vidal said his early return to Germany had Sampaoli's approval.
"It is for family problems and nothing more. The coach understood me and I am leaving on a positive note and I hope to return for [CONMEBOL] qualifying."
He said his son's health was not in danger.
"This does not all have to do with my son, these are family problems. He is doing well as is my daughter, but I have some things to sort and I preferred to leave at this moment because it is a friendly."
Vidal reiterated that he was concerned about his image in Germany and revealed that he received a call from the Bundesliga club on Tuesday.
"Of course they will ask me at some point because they are going to see so much published about this. But they know who I am and I have a good relationship with the coach and the staff," Vidal said.
He said he was disappointed to see media reports citing unnamed sources from inside the team.
"It has only been two months since we became the champions of the Americas and already, in our first match back together, people are already talking smack that has a profound effect. I am glad that at least the federation issued a statement and that Jorge [Valdivia] spoke and I hope that this is the last we have to talk about this," he said.
Vidal made headlines during the Copa America this summer after being dealt a two-year driving ban for driving under the influence and crashing his Ferrari.
Vidal, however, told reporters that he did not return to Germany on Tuesday because he did not make the last flight out in time.