Vieira teams up with Mancini at City

Roberto Mancini has made his first signing as manager of Manchester City FC by bringing his former midfielder Patrick Vieira in on an initial six-month contract from FC Internazionale Milano.

Sustained success
The 33-year-old French international played under Mancini at the Nerazzurri for two seasons in 2006/07 and 2007/08, helping Inter clinch the Scudetto in both campaigns. The former Arsenal FC man has made just 12 Serie A appearances this term, but impressed in Wednesday's 1-0 win at AC Chievo Verona and arrives at City until the end of the season, though there is the option to extend that by a further year. Vieira returns to England five years after leaving Arsenal, where he spent nine highly successful seasons as Arsène Wenger's side won the Premier League title three times and four FA Cups.

France aim
Vieira's final act in his first spell in English football was to score the decisive penalty against Manchester United FC in the 2005 FA Cup final shoot-out. He joined Juventus that summer and after a season in Turin he linked up with Mancini at Inter, winning the Scudetto in each of his first three campaigns at the San Siro. Capped 107 times for France, Vieira last played for his country in June and will hope the move improves his chances of making Les Bleus' FIFA World Cup squad. A trip to England also looms for Inter, who meet Chelsea FC in the UEFA Champions League first knockout round. City, who appointed Mancini on 19 December, are fifth in the Premier League.