Real Madrid and Barcelona struggle for Patrick Vieira
As is known, Real Madrid were seemingly the only team who were keen to acquire Arsenal FC midfielder Patrick Vieira. But now according to reports, FC Barcelona are also eager to sign the Frenchman. The Spanish newspaper AS states that Catalan club president Joan Gaspart has met Arsenal vice-president David Dein several times and hinted that Barca would like to acquire Vieira.
As is known, Real Madrid were seemingly the only team who were keen to acquire Arsenal FC midfielder Patrick Vieira. But now according to reports, FC Barcelona are also eager to sign the Frenchman. The Spanish newspaper AS states that Catalan club president Joan Gaspart has met Arsenal vice-president David Dein several times and hinted that Barca would like to acquire Vieira.
Simultaneously, Gaspart announced that Arsenal head coach Arsene Wenger is the main candidate for the position of the Catalan club head coach. If that deal materializes, Wenger will take over the helm of new club on 1 July 2002.
However, Royal club are reluctant to yield Vieira to Barcelona without a struggle. But the Frenchman, who is the compatriot of Wenger and has experience working with him, prefers Barcelona to Real.
The agent of the player, Marc Roger, who also represents the head coach of Arsenal, declared that Vieira and Wenger want to continue working together next season.
Vieira hasn't revealed anything about his ambitions up to present and prefers to keep silent.