Juve Confirm Vieira Interest
7/14/2005 4:12:00 AM
Serie A champions Juventus have confirmed their interest in signing Arsenal’s captain, the France midfielder Patrick Vieira.
Peter Hill-Wood, chairman of the North London club, confirmed earlier this week that they had spoken to Juventus about 29-year-old Vieira.
Now Juve’s club administrator, Antonio Giraudo has said of Vieira: “The Frenchman has great quality, not only as a player but as a man.
“There’s no doubt that we are interested, even if it’s going to be very difficult to take him away from Arsenal, a very solid club.”
Juve are thought to be offering the Gunners cash, along with Ghanaian midfielder Stephen Appiah or French defender Jonathan Zebina, for Vieira.
But Arsenal are reluctant to sell their captain, and Giraudo admitted: “At this time, the conditions aren’t there.”
Compatriots Urge Move
Meanwhile Juve’s striker, David Trezeguet, wants Vieira, a team mate in the France international squad, to move to Turin, where he would be a big hit.
Trezeguet played with Vieira in the France team that won the World Cup in 1998 and European Championships in 2000. He believes Vieira would fit in perfectly to the Juve side.
“I don’t know what the situation is, all I know is that if he (Vieira) arrived it would be an important reinforcement for us,” Trezeguet said.
“Patrick would do well in any team, we are talking about a player of the highest level.”
And former France team-mate (and ex-Juve star) Zinedine Zidane has also urged Vieira to leave Arsenal.
“After eight years at one club it would be good for Patrick to have a big move. He is still at an age where he is at the top of his game,” Zidane told the Daily Mirror.
btw , am not excited by signing him .... he is old and for sure there is better options than him with the same sum....any way...good to see new faces :down: