Patrick Vieira Bio Send To Friend  

Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira returned to the Premier League in January 2010, signing for Manchester City on a free transfer initially until the end of the season, with the option of a further year.

The France international was the first signing for City boss Roberto Mancini, who he had played under at Inter Milan.

He began his career with Cannes though a big move to AC Milan did not work out - he played only two Serie A games for the Rossoneri. That all changed when he moved to Arsenal for £4 million in the summer of 1996.

Vieira was an awesome powerhouse of a player in his nine years with the Gunners, with his ball-winning and passing skills helping bind the Arsenal midfield together.

Arsene Wenger had insisted that Vieira, along with Remi Garde, be signed by Arsenal before he took over. Vieira signed in August, and Wenger took over the following month.

As well as being the heartbeat of the Arsenal team, Vieira was also a vital part of the French national side which won the World Cup and the European Championships.

With the Gunners he won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and four Community Shields.

He had long been linked with a move away from Highbury, despite him wearing the captain's armband from 2002 onwards, and he returned to Italy in 2005 when signing for Juventus for £14 million.

Vieira played 407 games for Arsenal, scoring 34 goals.

Although he won the title in his first season with Juve, they were stripped of the crown due to the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal. With Juve relegated to Serie B, Vieira moved on and returned to Milan, this time to play for Internazionale, for around £7 million.

Vieira's career began to slide at Inter, despite winning three consecutive Serie A titles, the first two coming under Mancini. That meant it was something of a surprise when Man City came in to sign him, aged 33.