The vastly experienced World Cup and European Championship winner Patrick Vieira has signed for Manchester City until the end of the season…
The three times Premier League winner, four times FA Cup winner and four times Serie A winner has answered Roberto Mancini’s call to leave Inter Milan and help strengthen The Citizens’ young midfield.
Vieira joins City on a six months contract with 12 months to follow option.
A tough tackling class act who has just about won the lot in football, Vieira is the ideal man to help develop the likes of Vincent Kompany, Michael Johnson, Nigel De Jong and Stephen Ireland alongside England’s Gareth Barry and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
It’s clear that Mancio is intent upon adding experience to his squad as The Blues prepare to go over the top in a bid for success this season.
Detested by rags, most notably for his notorious clashes with failed Premier League manager Royston Vasey Keane and co, ‘The Long One’ or ‘The Octopus’ as he’s known in France will be welcomed by Planet Blue with open arms.
The 33 year old Frenchman is still intent on representing France at this summer’s World Cup in South Africa and says he still has a lot to prove. He told Canal Plus:
‘I set myself an objective, I want to go to the World Cup. The important thing for me is to go to Manchester City and to show the coach that I’m the same player than when he was in charge of Inter.’
City boss Roberto Mancini told mcfc.co.uk:
“Patrick is a world class midfielder with a winner’s mentality and will fit into this group very well…he knows me and my staff well, and importantly he also knows what the Premier League is all about.”
Hat stand French coach Raymond Domenech told L`Equipe:
‘His departure from Inter is good news,’ Domenech told L’Equipe.
‘We talked about it together for several months. He had to play again, even anywhere. Moreover, he has found a very good club. It is good to him and good to Les Bleus.
‘If he plays and he plays at his true level, there is no reason why he shouldn’t go to South Africa. But he is just like any other player – he has to play. If he plays, he is more than a candidate.’
The imposing midfielder is likely to make his debut against Blackburn Rovers on Monday night.
Welcome to MCFC, Pat!
VMC City Video Link: Vieira’s First Interview
YOUR NEW YEAR RESOLUTION – JOIN VITAL MANCHESTER CITY
Vital Manchester City was the fastest growing independent City Website of 2009 with a membership now over 2,000 strong. Thank you for your support! Get on board both here and in our buzzing forums in 2010 as we continue to focus on an important January.
Share this article
