Wenger defends Vieira departure

ARSENE WENGER last night defended Arsenal’s decision to allow Patrick Vieira to move to Juventus and insisted the French international was released for his own long-term benefit.

While the club had fought off previous advances from Real Madrid with tenacity, vice-chairman David Dein is said to have told Vieira that he was “neutral” about whether he should move to Juventus for £13.7m.

Wenger responded: “If Patrick feels he was not wanted here any more, we will leave the final word to him. But he had either (just over) two years with us or five years with Juventus at the age of 29.