Juve Offer �14m And Davids For Vieira
Saturday 6th October 2001
Arsenal are bracing themselves for another battle to keep Patrick Vieira after it was reported that Juventus had offered �14 million plus Edgar Davids in exchange. "I have not closed the door on a move to Serie A," Vieira said on Saturday.
Vieira's future at Highbury dominated the summer headlines after he was quoted criticising the club's ambition and new signings. And though it emerged that Manchester United and Real Madrid had enquired about the player, interest from Juventus looked to have cooled.
The Turin giants may have been put off by Vieira's comments earlier this year when he insisted that he would not return to Serie A because of the racism blighting the league. Vieira had a public spat with Lazio's Sinisa Mihajlovic over racist comments the Yugoslavia defender was alleged to have made in a Champions' League match last season.
But on Saturday, Vieira seemed much more receptive to a switch back to Serie A. "Contrary to what has been said, I have not closed the door on a move to Serie A," he said.
"I haven't met anyone for the moment and will only do so when the time is right. Money won't be the most important criteria when I come to take my decision but for now I have an important season ahead of me with the Gunners."
With Arsene Wenger yet to sign a new contract and Thierry Henry also stalling on his future until his boss commits, Vieira may not be the only Frenchman heading for the Highbury exit after the World Cup.
Juventus chief executive Roberto Bettega was reported to have met Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein on a boat off the Cote d'Azur where he tabled an official bid worth �14 million � plus Holland midfielder Edgar Davids in exchange..
Last summer, Dein pledged to make Vieira's future his "personal crusade" and vowed to ensure Vieira remained at the club until his contract expired. "Contracts have to be respected," he stressed.
In March, Juve general manager Luciano Moggi admitted that Juventus were keen on the player. "Obviously we are interested in him, but it all depends on what Arsenal want to do," he said. "Vieira is a great player and we could buy him."
Vieira, who moved to England for �3.5 million from AC Milan in August 1996, said at the time: "I'm stronger than I was when I was with AC Milan and it would be an honour to play with Juve. I'm earning a lot of money at Arsenal and I am happy to stay, but Juve are also a great team.
"My friends Zinedine Zidane and David Trezeguet have told me that Juve are an excellent club who look after their players and pay them well. You can never say never in football and I am not going to say that I won't return to Italy."
