Roberto Mancini targets Patrick Vieira for Man City

Posted Wednesday, January 06, 2010 by BBC.com

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini wants to sign Patrick Vieira and the Inter Milan midfielder is interested in making the move, BBC Sport understands.

Vieira, 33, is believed to be intrigued by the possibility of returning to England, where he has not played since leaving Arsenal for Juventus in 2005.

The France captain is out of favour at Inter and wants first-team football.

Other clubs are interested but Vieira sees linking up with his old Inter boss Mancini as his best option.

Vieira moved to the San Siro following a single season at Juve and won two Serie A titles at Inter under Mancini in 2007 and 2008.

He had similar success during his time at Arsenal, spending nine years in north London after Arsene Wenger made him his first signing as Gunners boss in 1996.

Vieira made more than 400 appearances for the Gunners, winning three league titles and four FA Cups.

His last game in English football was the 2005 FA Cup final, in which he scored the winning penalty for Arsenal to beat Manchester United.

Wenger, who was linked with re-signing Vieira at the start of the season, feels he will still be a force in the Premier League if he does switch to Eastlands and understands his motives for a move.

"Patrick needs to play," explained the Gunners boss. "I was surprised about Manchester City's interest because there were more talks about other clubs but it would be a good opportunity for him.

"I believe he would still be very effective in the Premier League because he has been injury free for three or four months now and that is what he needed."