The Patrick Vieira transfer saga took another twist today when a Sunday newspaper reported him as saying that he wants to leave Arsenal because he needs a new challenge.
The France midfielder, who is currently on holiday in the United States, told the Sunday Mirrornewspaper he had informed Arsenal that he did not intend to sign a new deal and that he wanted to leave to fulfil his personal ambitions.
"I had a meeting with Arsene Wenger and the club's vice-chairman David Dein two days before I went on holiday to America," the 25-year-old was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
"I told them I was not going to renew my contract for a third time, that I wanted to leave and that it was nothing to do with money because that was not an issue to me.
"This is not about Arsenal, but about my personal ambitions as a player.
"I felt, and people should respect this, that I need a new challenge after five years at the club.
"I feel if I go to a new environment I can raise my game to a new level.
"I expect Arsenal to stand by a verbal agreement they have with me and I expect this to be sorted out before I return from my holiday."
The Sunday Mirrorsaid Vieira had informed Arsenal of his decision to leave the club following their defeat by Galatasaray in the UEFA Cup final a year ago.
According to the paper, Vieira had only been persuaded to stay on the basis of a verbal assurance that the club would agree to his transfer request if he still wanted to leave at the end of the following season, which finished in May.