07-14-2005, 11:47 AM
Arsenal Set To Let Vieira Go
Thu 14 Jul, 809 AM
The deal struck to take Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira to Juventus will be announced today, according to Italian media reports.
The Gazzetta Dello Sport website, citing unnamed officials from both clubs, reported that a deal was struck late yesterday evening.
Both Gazzetta and ANSA, the Italian national press agency, reported that the clubs have agreed a deal which will be made official today.
According to the reports, the Senegal-born French international will sign a five-year contract.
Juve earlier confirmed they would like to add the inspirational midfielder to their ranks with club administrator Antonio Giraudo saying "The Frenchman has great quality, not only as a player but as a man.
"There is no doubt we are interested, even if it is going to be very difficult to take him away from Arsenal, a very solid club."
Vieira, 29, could be joined in Turin by international team-mate Robert Pires, who has also been linked with the Italian champions after turning down a 12-month extension to his Arsenal contract, having asked for two more years.
Apart from Gunners' chairman Peter Hill-Wood admitting he had heard of the Juventus interest in Vieira and saying it was still his gut feeling that it would be turned down at a board meeting next week, there has been no response from Arsenal.
Vieira was on the brink of joining Real a year ago but the London club's commitment to keeping him despite a £25million-plus deal, was a big factor in him changing his mind at the last moment.
This time, neither vice-chairman David Dein, the real power behind the throne at Highbury, nor manager Arsene Wenger have yet come out and publicly stated their desire to retain Vieira, who still has two years to run on his contract which is now believed to make him the highest earner at Highbury.
Pires' representative Stephane Courbis confirmed Juve's interest in the 32-year-old and ruled out a claim from Turkish side Galatasaray that they are close to capturing the player.
Courbis said "Right now, Juve are the only interested party. We have not had contact from Galatasaray."
Thu 14 Jul, 809 AM
The deal struck to take Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira to Juventus will be announced today, according to Italian media reports.
The Gazzetta Dello Sport website, citing unnamed officials from both clubs, reported that a deal was struck late yesterday evening.
Both Gazzetta and ANSA, the Italian national press agency, reported that the clubs have agreed a deal which will be made official today.
According to the reports, the Senegal-born French international will sign a five-year contract.
Juve earlier confirmed they would like to add the inspirational midfielder to their ranks with club administrator Antonio Giraudo saying "The Frenchman has great quality, not only as a player but as a man.
"There is no doubt we are interested, even if it is going to be very difficult to take him away from Arsenal, a very solid club."
Vieira, 29, could be joined in Turin by international team-mate Robert Pires, who has also been linked with the Italian champions after turning down a 12-month extension to his Arsenal contract, having asked for two more years.
Apart from Gunners' chairman Peter Hill-Wood admitting he had heard of the Juventus interest in Vieira and saying it was still his gut feeling that it would be turned down at a board meeting next week, there has been no response from Arsenal.
Vieira was on the brink of joining Real a year ago but the London club's commitment to keeping him despite a £25million-plus deal, was a big factor in him changing his mind at the last moment.
This time, neither vice-chairman David Dein, the real power behind the throne at Highbury, nor manager Arsene Wenger have yet come out and publicly stated their desire to retain Vieira, who still has two years to run on his contract which is now believed to make him the highest earner at Highbury.
Pires' representative Stephane Courbis confirmed Juve's interest in the 32-year-old and ruled out a claim from Turkish side Galatasaray that they are close to capturing the player.
Courbis said "Right now, Juve are the only interested party. We have not had contact from Galatasaray."