Vieira moves from Arsenal to Juventus
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-15 08:40

"When you spend nine years at the club, like I did, it is a difficult decision to leave," Vieira told Arsenal's Web site. "But in the end you have to make a choice for your future. It was a very difficult decision, but I am happy with it."

Vieira is considered one of the top midfielders in the world, having won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship with France.

At Arsenal, he won three Premiership titles and the FA Cup on four occasions.

"I made the decision to leave because I felt it was time for me to have a new challenge. But that does not mean I was unhappy or that I was having a problem at Arsenal," Vieira said. "It was just that I had the feeling I needed to grow and meet a new challenge, and I feel Juventus was the best challenge for me."

At Juventus, Vieira will play alongside midfielders Pavel Nedved and Emerson.

"Once again we've realized the objective we had in mind," Juventus coach Fabio Capello was quoted as saying by the ANSA news agency. "Vieira is an important player, with great personality, who knows how to impose his play in the middle of the field with his skill and technical qualities."

Capello coached Vieira briefly when both were with Milan.

"I said then that he would become an important player on the level of (Frank) Rijkaard," Capello said.

Vieira will be presented Friday at noon (1000 GMT) at Juventus headquarters in downtown Turin.

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