Vieira picked Juve over Real
Friday 15 July, 2005
Patrick Vieira has spoken for the first time as a Juventus player after the Italian club beat Real Madrid for his signature.
The French international joined the Bianconeri last night in a £13.7m move from Arsenal and is delighted with his choice of destination.
"I'm really proud and happy today, because it's a really special day," he said at the club’s headquarters in Corso Galileo Ferraris.
"For me, in the last few years, Juventus has always been at the top, not only in European football but also national as well.
"So for me to join Juventus is a fantastic achievement in my career. I'm really proud and really happy.
"It's going to be a really big challenge but I'm going to be ready for that.
"Juventus has been a really stable club in the past few years and when I look at myself as a human being and as a player, and I look at Juventus, it's the perfect club for me.
"I took this decision without being influenced by either (Juventus defender Lilian) Thuram or (Real Madrid’s Zinedine) Zidane. This is my decision because it is my life."
Juventus were first linked to Vieira a few weeks ago and the club admit it was tough landing the 29-year-old.
"The player is not aware of what a battle we had with Real for him," stated director general Luciano Moggi.
"But we insisted and in the end Vieira chose us. I can assure everyone though that Arsenal didn’t sell him voluntarily because he is a champion.
"We’ve dug deep to get him but that is only because we are certain that Vieira will know how to pay us back."
The former Highbury captain added that it was a tough decision to turn his back on his wonderful years in London.
"When you spend nine years somewhere it's always going to be difficult, but when you make a decision you think about what you want to achieve," he added.
"It was quite difficult, but that's life. I achieved a lot with Arsenal, in the nine years I spent there we won a lot of trophies.
"What I want is just to keep going and keep winning trophies for my new team. I’ve not come here to just win the Champions’ League but for everything."
The combative midfielder will now link up again with his former Milan boss Fabio Capello, who once likened him to Frank Rijkaard.
"I was just 19 back then," explained Vieira. "Rijkaard is one of my idols and I’m delighted with the compliment. Capello was a great motivator and he still is now."
The player was also questioned about the possibility that he could be targeted by racist chants in Italy.
"I did evaluate that aspect when I signed but I will deal with that if it ever arises," he concluded.
Meanwhile, Moggi seemed to put away the club’s chequebook following this latest capture.
"We will now look to sell," he stated. "There is an agreement with Sevilla for Enzo Maresca even if he needs to give his OK. We will then place Stephen Appiah and Fabrizio Miccoli."
