Duo give hope to Gunners over Vieira

Real Madrid’s director of sport Emilio Butragueno and Patrick Vieira’s agent Steve Kutner both distanced themselves tonight with any possibility that the France midfielder will make a £22m (€33.3m) switch to the Spanish giants.

Butragueno described reports that Real are close to signing Arsenal 28-year-old skipper as “a bit excessive”.

And Kutner insists that no agreement on any move away from north London has been made.

Former Spain striker Butragueno claimed he was inaccurately quoted in reports which suggested Real had agreed personal terms with the France midfielder.

Butragueno was quoted on Tuesday as saying: “He is an interesting player and very important for us and our club.

“It’s a long process, but this week will be decisive.”

However, he claimed less than 24 hours later that he had been misquoted, telling www.realmadrid.es: “The only thing I said to the English journalist was that he was an interesting player.

“At no moment did I confirm that he was one of our operations, to say that strikes me as a bit excessive.

“I am a little bit surprised by what people say has appeared in the press.”

Butragueno continued: “I understand there is not much news and that this could be a very attractive story but I want to make it clear that we were never in ’the operation Vieira’ or anything like that.”

Kutner also denied that Vieira, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and the club’s vice-chairman David Dein were meeting tonight at their pre-season training camp in Graz to discuss the player’s future.

When asked why Vieira had not made clear what his future plans might be, Kutner said: “That’s because there has been no movement on this. I can tell you that nothing has been agreed.”

According to the London Evening Standard, Arsenal chiefs are growing increasingly frustrated that Vieira, whose £4m (€6m) -a-year contract is due to expire in 2008, has not publicly denounced claims he will leave Highbury.

Vieira refused to talk to a Spanish reporter at the Gunners’ team hotel in Bad Waltersdorf on Sunday.

He would only say: “I am sorry. I cannot speak. This is not the right moment. I cannot talk about Real Madrid. Leave me. Don’t do this.”

Arsenal refused to comment tonight, but Wenger insisted over the weekend that no bids had been made for the French international midfielder.

“He would not go to Real Madrid,” said Wenger. “If that was going to happen, it would have happened a long time ago.”

Former Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman also believes Vieira will stay with the Barclays Premiership champions.

The fact Real Madrid have to qualify for the Champions League next season after finishing outside La Liga’s top two will also help persuade him to pledge his future to Highbury, according to Seaman.

“As far as Arsenal are concerned, there’s no way it’s happening,” Seaman told Sky Sports News.

“Arsenal are getting closer and closer to the Champions League and you can’t say Real Madrid are a better team than Arsenal.”

He added: “Arsenal are not a one-man team but, of course, it would be a blow if he did leave, but I cannot see that happening.”

Vieira, who joined Arsenal from AC Milan in August 1996, arrived in Austria by private jet on Saturday along with the club’s other Euro 2004 contingent.

He did not watch the Gunners’ pre-season 2-1 win over Grazer AK and he will miss Arsenal’s friendly with Sturm Graz tonight after picking up a slight knock in training along with Swedish international Freddie Ljungberg and Jeremie Aliadiere.

England defender Sol Campbell also misses out with an Achilles injury.

Campbell has been receiving treatment over the last 24 hours, after missing both morning and afternoon training sessions yesterday.

A Highbury spokeswoman said that Wenger was assessing his condition, but confirmed the former Spurs man will take no part in tonight’s match.

“Sol is presently being monitored by Arsene (Wenger) and our medical team out in Austria,” she said.

“My understanding, though, is that his condition is not too serious.”