Wenger insistent over Vieira
Saturday, 17 July 2004
by Graeme Bailey
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed his desire to keep captain Patrick Vieira at the club and insists no bid has been received from Real Madrid.
Reports continue to insist that Vieira is the prime target for Real and that a move is close if not imminent.
Real themselves have denied Vieira is top of their potential list of targets, with Spanish sources suggesting that Ricardo Carvalho and Emerson are the players currently interesting coach Jose Antonio Camacho
Despite this, Wenger has been forced to reiterate Arsenal's stance over their French star.
"There has not been a bid and we are not in the market to sell our players," Wenger confirmed to Sky Sports.
"I have not spoken with him today or even yesterday, but I have had numerous talks with him.
"We are not in a position where we want to make money, we are in a good financial position.
"I have not thought about losing him as I don't believe I will lose the player.
"People are very creative and for them the numbers are easy, we don't like to talk about money or numbers we just look to build from year to year, the number of young players we have is good and we want our good players and leaders to stay."
Asked whether Arsenal could reject up to ￡30 million for Vieira, Wenger was unequivocal with his response.
"We could really say no, I believe what I say," he added.
"The target of a football club is not to have massive money, it is to have a team on the pitch and Patrick is part of that and we want him to stay part of that."
The French coach also dismissed talk that Vieira would want to move to El Santiago Bernabeu to win the UEFA Champions League.
"I am not convinced," he said. "Real Madrid had to wait 30 years to win it and they could have to wait that to do it again.
"There are six or so sides who could do it."
Wenger was then asked about his own future - as he has just one year remaining on his current deal.
"My situation is clear, I am highly committed to the club, I have shown that in the past and now," he said.
"I can't say I will stay for ten years if I only have a contract for one year."
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