FOOTBALL: SECRET DEAL TO LET VIEIRA GO

PATRICK VIEIRA will activate a gentlemen's agreement with Arsenal this summer to complete a pounds 40million transfer to Real Madrid.

Vieira, who has been at the centre of growing speculation about a move to the continent, is understood to have agreed last summer to remain at Arsenal for one more season following a row over his future.

The French international, who was handed the vice-captaincy this season to pacify his growing unrest, claimed that the club had already reneged on an agreement to release him struck after their defeat by Galatasaray in the UEFA Cup Final two seasons ago.

Vieira's agent Marc Roger, who was condemned by Arsenal after his involvement in Nicolas Anelka's departure from Highbury, is also maintaining a verbal agreement is in place to pave the way for Vieira to leave. Although Arsenal have insisted Vieira is not for sale at any price, insiders claim this is merely to hype up the transfer fee for a player wanted by Juventus and Real.

Last week it was claimed Vieira had met Madrid officials to finalise a deal which could earn him as much as pounds 130,000 a week over a five-year period.

However, those close to the Spanish giants insist Vieira's name and that of his agent Roger are already on a pre-contractual agreement.

Arsenal, fearing a backlash from their supporters, moved to play down Vieira's visit to Madrid this week.

They went to extraordinary lengths by producing a letter they claimed had come from the Spanish side denying they had met Vieira.

However, the Sunday Mirror can reveal that the player and his agent did meet club officials.

Arsenal's vice-chairman David Dein remained adamant that the player is priceless and, supported by manager Wenger, claims no amount of money will buy his signature.

"Vieira is not for sale," said Dein. "We are building a brand new stadium and there's no point without a world-class team to go in it.

"We fought during the summer to make sure he was going to be our player and six months later nothing has changed.

"I wrote to Real Madrid on Wednesday and they immediately came back to deny any false rumours, as they called them, about Patrick. We are in the business of winning trophies, not selling our best players."

Arsene Wenger admitted Vieira had not given him an assurance that he would stay.

Wenger said: "Why should Patrick give me an assurance? He has two years to go until the end of his contract. We want to keep our best players.

"Even if there was an offer of pounds 50million to the board I hope they would not accept. What is a bank full of money if you have no team?"

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