Manchester City agree deal with Inter Milan for Vieira?

[Vhero]

The Italian daily Corriere Dello Sport reports today that Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has returned to his former club to make his first signing, former Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira .

The 33 year-old has had limited opportunities at the San Siro under Jose Mourinho, making only 12 appearances so far this season. However, Manchester City boss Mancini who knows Vieira well from his time at Inter, has spoken extensively with the player according to reports and the midfielder is set to sign an 18 month deal at Eastlands.

The Frenchman is in the final year of his current Inter contract, but the deal may not be announced for several days as Vieira will likely be needed for Inter's upcoming fixtures against Chievo and at home to Siena.

World Cup winner Vieira is still hoping to force his way into the French squad for this summer's tournament in South Africa and hopes that regular football at Manchester City will boost his chances. Vieira has made over 100 international appearances and knows the English game extremely well having spent 9 successful years with the Gunners.

Dunno how reliable that paper is but seems interesting buy no? Prem proven and not too old.

[Chinners]

Yeah had that in the b*ll*x, different source mind. Looks like an end of the season loan thing. Would be a good short-term signing imo

[CityFanFromRome]

It's not really a reliable paper, likes to link teams with a lot of players, however they say the deal has been agreed, we will see if that is true. TBH I don't want him anywhere near our club, he may be Prem proven but he often goes in with dangerous tackles (both for himself as he risks getting a red, and for the opposition player who risks an injury) at least he does now in Italy. As for his age, he's 33, how is that not too old? Besides, we have De Jong, what do we need Vieira for, if he wants a regular starting place?

[Original Dub]

The Italian daily Corriere Dello Sport reports today that Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has returned to his former club to make his first signing, former Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira .

The 33 year-old has had limited opportunities at the San Siro under Jose Mourinho, making only 12 appearances so far this season. However, Manchester City boss Mancini who knows Vieira well from his time at Inter, has spoken extensively with the player according to reports and the midfielder is set to sign an 18 month deal at Eastlands.

The Frenchman is in the final year of his current Inter contract, but the deal may not be announced for several days as Vieira will likely be needed for Inter's upcoming fixtures against Chievo and at home to Siena.

World Cup winner Vieira is still hoping to force his way into the French squad for this summer's tournament in South Africa and hopes that regular football at Manchester City will boost his chances. Vieira has made over 100 international appearances and knows the English game extremely well having spent 9 successful years with the Gunners.

Dunno how reliable that paper is but seems interesting buy no? Prem proven and not too old.

Not too old? Mate he's 33 and seems to get injured a fair bit.

Also, I'm not sure he's the type of midfielder we need at all - I'd prefer a real creative mid - an out and out playmaker.

[Beeks]

I think it's a great short term signing...only a loan deal after all...and he has been there and done it in the prem...not like we are tying him into a contract...he can do a job for us if needed until the summer...good cover

[Dronny]

The bit about him wanting to force his way into the French WC squad as he'll play games for City....really??? I can't see him being anything other than a makeweight as our fixtures mount up with extra cup games etc. Agree with OD in that I'd prefer an Arshavin type player rather than another Rotty, Vinnie and Gaz Baz type.

[Crossie]

Any unsettled Italian based player who is unsettled at the moment is being linked with us.

[Wooders]

sounds good to me - very capable centre midfielder - a great addition to the squad

[Wonderwall]

wouldnt want him personally, but he is very experienced and is a proven winner. Isnt that how we sign people these days!

[Ted Hughes]

I have no problem with this whatsoever. He's a bloke who knows how Mancini wants to operate, particularly defensively & can help him get his points across to the others. He's also 8ft tall & can balance us because whenever we pick up a few injuries we end up with a team full of dwarves, MH's biggest mistake imo.


I know for a fact what the reaction of some other people would have been to this though 'in the past'.


The only down side for me is that the signing of another defensive midfielder may mean that we won't be playing so many attacking players anymore or perhaps the kind of cavallier football in the future that we have been doing recently, which is what I have always dreamed of since the Bell Lee Summerbee days. Perhaps I'm wrong but it would appear that way.

[lets all have a disco]

Can he play Centre half?

[BoltFromTheBlue]

How long til SSN understands?

[psut1]

Maybe play him at centre half?

[Beeks]

Can he play Centre half?

too slow

[AlpsMaster]

I'd have loved to have him playing for us in his hay day and even now would be quite happy to seem him join us on a short term basis.

If he can pass some his experience onto Kompany and help him develop into the sort of player Vieira was at Le Arse then I'd be very happy indeed.

[Ted Hughes]

Can he play Centre half?

too slow

He can stand in front of them & help take pressure off though.

[Blue2]

Pointless signing if true. We are not exactly short of players for his position are we? Well past his sell by date imo.

[Bingo Lewis]

He'd come in and do a job. can't go wrong with a loan.

[Beeks]

Can he play Centre half?

too slow

He can stand in front of them & help take pressure off though.

Absolutely...like I said...Think it's a winner for me...if he's shite he's only here on loan and can warm the bench for the rest of the season...if he is still handy...great!

[Ted Hughes]

Can he play Centre half?

too slow

He can stand in front of them & help take pressure off though.

Absolutely...like I said...Think it's a winner for me...if he's shite he's only here on loan and can warm the bench for the rest of the season...if he is still handy...great!

So long as if he IS shite, the manager doesn't keep playing him. That would ruin his relationship with the fans.