Mourinho waves goodbye to Vieira

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-01-08 09:00

ROME: Patrick Vieira's departure from Inter Milan was confirmed on Wednesday after coach Jose Mourinho said the French midfield veteran had played his last game for the Italian champions.

Vieira, who is being tipped to join Manchester City, was given a rare start for Inter because of several absenses in midfield.

The Serie A champions beat Chievo 1-0 thanks to a Mario Balotelli goal in the 12th minute to stretch their lead over city rivals AC Milan to 11 points.

"Today we had a few problems but I have a team full of professionals who went out and did a remarkable job," Mourinho said.

"I should have good words to say about everybody but the only person I want to talk about is Vieira, who has played his last match for us.

"He had an impeccable game. It was the perfect farewell to us and I want to wish him all the best for his new career."

Vieira, 33, has had a shaky past three seasons at Inter Milan and, now on the fringes of the France team, he is desperate for first team football to boost his chances of featuring in Raymond Domenech's World Cup squad.

Reports this week suggested City have been in talks with Inter over signing Vieira, who has also had the rule run over him by former French champions Lyon.

Mourinho said he believes Vieira, who at the end of the match hugged several of his teammates, was definitely returning to the English Premier League.

"He hasn't said a word to anybody but he has mentioned the English Premier League," said the Portuguese.

Inter Milan's Romanian international defender Cristian Chivu fractured skull and was taken to hospital during his side's 1-0 victory over Chievo.

Chivu (pictured) suffered the injury just after half fime in a clash of heads with Chievo player Sergio Pellissier.

He was later operated on for just more than an hour after receiving a visit from his teammates and the surgeon said he was optimistic he would make a full recovery.

"We are pretty confident the patient will recover without a problem," said Professor Sergio Turazzi.

"It is premature to say when he can leave hospital but there is every hope everything will be resolved in the best possible way."

Mourinho had said earlier he believed Chivu would be fine but unable to play for a long time.

"He has fractured his skull and we hope he will be able to recover very quickly, even though I fear he will be on the sidelines for a while."

AFP