Pires denies saying Vieira has signed for Real

PATRICK VIEIRA’S Arsenal future became shrouded in more uncertainty yesterday when Robert Pires denied revealing that his team-mate had decided to join Real Madrid.

Pires insisted he had no knowledge of Vieira's future plans and, in a statement issued through Arsenal, refuted earlier quotes attributed to him and reported by the author of his autobiography, Xavier Rivoire.

Pires said: "I have never said a word about Patrick's situation I have too much respect for him to give an opinion.