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Wenger warns Vieira about leaving
August 07, 2004 10:47 IST
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said on Friday that his captain Patrick Vieira would be making a mistake if he left the English champions.
Vieira is still being linked with a move to Real Madrid, even though Arsenal have rejected an initial bid by the Spanish club.
"I believe every player who leaves Arsenal makes a mistake," Wenger told reporters. "Frankly, I find change for the sake of change unacceptable, the basic desire of a player is to win and everything else is superficial."
Wenger said he did not want to have to convince the 28-year-old France midfielder to stay.
"I want him to stay because he's convinced he wants to be part of this club," Wenger said.
"If a player comes to me and says he can't win things and wants to leave, that's fair enough.
"Why does Michael Schumacher stay at Ferrari? Because he knows he can win there."
Real President Florentino Perez was quoted in British newspapers on Friday as saying Real would not be making another offer for Vieira.
"We have made our offer to Arsenal and that is as far as it goes," Perez said. "We will not be raising it as they want so for the moment talks have broken down."