And speaking exclusively to mcfc.co.uk in his first interview in since joining the Blues, the 33-year-old French legend has urged his new teammates to reach for the stars.
“The squad is packed full of quality that is why I believe the ambition should be high,” he declared.
We should not be afraid to say that we are good enough to win the league because we are and as a team we should believe we can do it
...Patrick Vieira
“At Arsenal one year we won the title from 15 points behind at Christmas. Everything is possible.”
Vieira has taken the squad number 24 and will be reunited with former Highbury teammates Kolo Toure and Sylvinho.
The midfielder signed off from Inter with a typically forceful performance in Wednesday’s 1-0 Serie A away win over Chievo and then signed on to a six month deal with the Blues and a reunion with former Inter boss Roberto Mancini.
“I came back to England because I think City is really exciting club with big ambition,” he went on.
“I still have dreams in football and one of them is to come back to the Premier League and win something.
“We can achieve something really special here. I want to convince the City board and the City players and fans that I didn’t come here just to spend six months.
“I have come here to give something to the club. I believe that I still have a lot to give and I believe the team is strong enough to win trophies.”
Having begun his career with Cannes and then played briefly at AC Milan, the 6’3” Senegal-born midfielder made 279 appearances for Arsene Wenger’s side.
During his time at Highbury he won three Premier League titles and lifted the FA Cup four times. He was also an integral part of the Arsenal ‘Invincibles’ side that went unbeaten throughout the entire 2003-4 Premier League season.
In Italy with Juventus and Inter he won four league titles (one of which was taken away from Juve), and two Italian Super Cups. Vieira has 107 France caps to his name, having won both the World Cup in 1998 and European Championships in 2000.
Watch his first interview in full on video on www.mcfc.co.uk later this afternoon.
