Vieira prepared to fight at Inter Milan and snub Arsenal and Tottenham

22 August 2009 16:50
Patrick Vieira is prepared to stay at Inter Milan, even though boss Jose Mourinho has given him no guarantees that he will figure in the team's plans. The 33-year-old French international has been linked with a move to north London with both Spurs and former club Arsenal expressing an interest. But with only one year remaining on his contract, and with next year's World Cup on the horizon, Vieira says he is finally injury free and determined to show Mourinho he can win his place in the Inter side. 'I started training again without the slightest problem,' Vieira said in Saturday's edition of sports daily L'Equipe. 'The friendlies went well. I've been playing a lot more than I thought I would,' 'Now it's up to me to fight to play as often as possible, because I have been given no guarantees at all.' Vieira has been dogged by injuries for the past two seasons and was handed  a limited number of games last season. The Senegal-born midfielder thought about leaving because he was afraid he would not be playing competitively before the World Cup. 'It's been the hardest decision for me to take but also the most reasonable,' Vieira said. "I couldn't see myself going just anywhere to play.' Lyon sporting director Bernard Lacombe - whose club have also expressed an interest in signing the midfielder - contacted Vieira about a possible move but that fell through. 'I had Bernard Lacombe contact me once or twice on the phone,' Vieira said. 'It didn't go any further. It wasn't a financial problem. Perhaps Lyon were scared to take me.' 

Source: Daily_Mail