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Vieira completes City switch

Author: Brandon Barker
Date: 09/01/2010
Football betting

Patrick Vieira has been officially confirmed as a Manchester City player after agreeing an initial six-month contract to return to the Premier League.

The former Arsenal captain won three Premier League titles before heading to Italy, but has now agreed to become Roberto Mancini's first signing since replacing Mark Hughes in the Eastlands hot-seat last month.

The 33-year-old midfielder has joined the Citizens from Internazionale on an initial contract until the end of the season with the option for a further 12 months should he impress on his return England.

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Elsewhere, Andrea Dossena's unhappy 18-month spell at Liverpool has been ended following confirmation of a transfer back to Italy with Napoli.

The Italy full-back joined the Reds from Udinese in July 2008 but has now returned to Serie A after making just 18 first-team appearances.

Sir Alex Ferguson has described as 'nonsense' a flurry of reports claiming that Gary Neville has decided to retire at the end of the season.

The 34-year-old Manchester United captain has made almost 600 appearances for the Old Trafford club during 18 years in the first team, but his much-criticised performance in last weekend's FA Cup defeat to Leeds United has led to suggestions of an impending retirement.

Meanwhile, online betting second title favourites United will be without defender Nemanja Vidic for up to ten days following a recurrence of a leg muscle problem.

In the Championship, Sheffield Wednesday have confirmed the former Preston North End boss Alan Irvine as their new manager.

The 51-year-old, who has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract at Hillsborough, replaces Brian Laws who parted company with the Owls last month.

England cricket captain Andrew Strauss has accused South Africa of 'malicious' behaviour following the ball-tampering row which has overshadowed the third Test.

The tourists held on to claim a thrilling draw at Newlands on Thursday to take a 1-0 lead into the last match of the four-game series.

However, Strauss has condemned the actions of the home side following their suggestions of ball-tampering

South Africa accused Stuart Broad and James Anderson of tampering on day three but did not officially complain to the match referee.

"I do think to a certain extent that the South Africans announcing it to the media - without being totally clear in their minds what they were going to do, whether they were going to put in a formal complaint - is a little bit malicious," claimed Strauss.

"Ball-tampering is a very sensitive subject and if you're going to make allegations, you've got to be very clear or confident that is exactly what the other team were doing."

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