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Bayern Munich demands Sport Bild, Kicker cease false allegations about Arturo Vidal

Naseem Zeitoon / Reuters

Bayern Munich is threatening legal action against two German magazines.

On Thursday, Bayern published a statement in which the club demanded that Sport Bild and Kicker cease making false allegations about Arturo Vidal. Both magazines claimed that the Chilean midfielder earns about "€8 million" per year and subsequently conceded the report was false.

Sport Bild further claimed that Vidal left the club's training camp more than once "and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol on his return." It later conceded the assertion was also false.

From Bayern's official website:

FC Bayern Munchen has demanded that “SPORT BILD” and “Kicker” cease making false allegations concerning Arturo Vidal. Both magazines had claimed that Vidal's remuneration comprises about “€8 million net per annum.” Both “SPORT BILD” and “Kicker” have delivered a cease-and-desist letter, conceding that this allegation is false.

“SPORT BILD” had further claimed that during the training camp, Vidal “left the team base on several occasions and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol on his return.” Also in this case both FC Bayern Munchen and Arturo Vidal requested “SPORT BILD” to cease making false allegations and received a cease-and-desist letter from “SPORT BILD.” “SPORT BILD” has thereby conceded that this allegation is equally false.

FC Bayern Munchen AG chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge commented: “The media are currently spreading many rumours and much speculation about FC Bayern. In the future FC Bayern will vigorously pursue legal action against false and malicious allegations to protect the club, its players and the coaching staff.”

At the beginning of February, Vidal vehemently denied Sport Bild's allegation that he was removed from Bayern's training facility because he appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, taking to Instagram and writing that his lawyers had been instructed to initiate a legal claim against the magazine.

Related: Bayern Munich's Vidal to sue German newspaper over alcohol-related 'false report'

Vidal is struggling to fit into Pep Guardiola's style of play during his first season at Bayern. Despite tallying two goals and two assists through 20 appearances, 16 of which have been as a starter, the product of Colo-Colo is having a hard time linking up with those around him on the pitch and isn't making quite the impact he made at Juventus.

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