City poised to land Vieira as Veron shuns England return
MANCHESTER City are on the brink of completing a loan deal for one former Premier League star in Patrick Vieira but have failed in a bid to sign another in Juan Sebastian Veron.
Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed that former Arsenal captain Vieira, 33, is on the brink of sealing a return to England. Ex-Inter boss Roberto Mancini, now in charge at City, is poised to land the combative midfielder on loan until the end of the season.
Vieira made a farewell appearance as Inter beat Chievo on Tuesday evening and Mourinho said: “Patrick will say goodbye to us. The club thought not to turn down his request to leave. This would have been the last year of his contract.
“Where he will go? I don’t know – In my opinion he will go to England, even if there is the possibility also he could go to France. I wish him every happiness.”
Vieira, who is keen to play regular first-team football ahead of the summer’s World Cup, is set to reject offers from Lyon and Barcelona in favour of City.
Veron, however, has opted to remain in his native Argentina, where he is enjoying an Indian summer with Estudiantes. The 34-year-old former Chelsea and Manchester United playmaker is though to have rejected a £7m switch to Eastlands.
“It’s not a fact of money,” he said. “First of all is the family, and second, I have made a decision and I want to respect it, that is what I feel and Estudiantes is the place where I feel comfortable.”
City yesterday announced annual losses of more than £92m.