Vieira will stay, says friend

Patrick Vieira will stay at Arsenal this season, according to a close friend of the midfielder.

Chantal Stanley, who has known the France international since he moved to Highbury, believes Vieira is settled with life in the capital and would only leave if he was forced out.

Spanish reports suggest Vieira is set for a move to Real Madrid, while the player has remained silent about where he will be next season.

Stanley said: “If he goes it’s not because he has asked to go. If he wanted to he would have gone already,” she told BBC Sport Online.

“I do not believe it is his wish to leave the UK.

“I know Patrick Vieira very well. I know the good life he has here, I know how highly in his esteem he holds Arsene Wenger and how much he loves working with him.

“I know the kind of person he is and the kind of passion he has for Arsenal

“He’s captain of the team and he has a special relationship with the fans and he appreciates their love for him.

“His fiancé is happy in the UK as well. I just cannot imagine him leaving Arsenal.”

Stanley maintains the 28-year-old is not tempted by the money on offer to become a galactico at the Bernabeu.

“He earns good money already. If he goes I don’t think it will be of his own doing and not because of money.

“Of course, money is important to everyone but performance is very important to Pat.

“Pat has had a lot of offers in the past and turned them down to stay at Arsenal.

“I personally feel Pat is very loyal to Arsenal.

“He told me something very sweet one day, he said ’If I’m rich enough I would one day love to buy Arsenal’.

“I might be wrong and Pat might have had a fantastic offer but I would be surprised. I just don’t think so,” she added.

The former AC Milan midfielder has been linked with a move away from Highbury for the past few summers.

He signed a new contract last season keeping him at Highbury for another three years, but that has not prevented the speculation continuing about his future.

“Every year I hear Real Madrid,” Stanley added. “I remember last time he went to Madrid shortly after Claude Makelele had a new child.

“The press saw him in the airport and went mad saying ‘Vieira is coming to Madrid’.

“Pat laughed and said ’all I was doing was visiting Claude Makelele and his baby’.

“All this speculation is not new. Before he renewed his contract he knew a lot of people wanted him around the world. He had many opportunities.

“He could have gone anywhere he wanted but he stayed at Arsenal.

“He’s a player worth a lot of money and maybe Arsenal need to sell him while they can.

“Maybe he wants to play with Zinedine Zidane, maybe he wants the bigger picture.

“People change but I just can’t see it. I just cannot imagine it.”