Juve confirm Vieira sale Wednesday 2 August, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Juventus have this morning announced that star midfielder Patrick Vieira has been sold to Serie A giants Inter.
The move has been on the cards for some time and a fee of around £6.5m, to be paid over the next three years, has been agreed between both parties.
The former Arsenal captain was signed by the Bianconeri a year ago from the Premiership for just over £14m, with today’s move representing a technical and economical loss for the Old Lady.
Vieira has made no secret of his intention to leave Juventus after their relegation to Serie B, following the example of Emerson, Fabio Cannavaro, Gianluca Zambrotta and Lilian Thuram.
Inter owner Massimo Moratti had already confirmed Vieira’s move to Milan on Tuesday, after the Frenchman was also linked with a transfer to Manchester United on the same day.
The news was also confirmed by Juventus chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc in an interview with the L’Equipe newspaper.
Vieira is expected to sign a four-year contract worth almost £3.5m a season once he passes his medical later today.
Juventus Coach Didier Deschamps is now hoping that Vieira is the last of the summer sales even if doubts remain over the futures of Mauro Camoranesi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Trezeguet.
http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/aug2a.html