No approach yet for Vieira, says Mourinho

Inter boss Jose Mourinho said Thursday the Serie A champions had not been approached by Spurs or their north London rivals Arsenal for ageing midfield general Patrick Vieira.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Spurs coach Harry Redknapp have both said they have spoken with the 33-year-old or his agent about a move back to the Premier League.

“If they want him, they have to tell us. At this moment I have to say neither Arsenal or Tottenham has contacted the club,” said Mourinho ahead of Saturday’s Italian Super Cup final against Lazio at Beijing’s Olympic Stadium, better known as the Bird’s Nest.

“Vieira will start on the bench on Saturday. We have 24 players in the squad and each team is only allowed 18 players for the match. When Vieira is on the bench, he is an option… He’s an option.”

Vieira is keen to play regular first team football as he attempts to make his way back into the French national side for next year’s South Africa World Cup.

Mourinho said new signing Samuel Eto’o will start his first match for Inter on Saturday after arriving at the San Siro from European champions Barcelona in a swap deal for Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Italian Super Cup is usually played at the home of the Serie A champions and is the new season curtain raiser. But in a bid to broaden the appeal of Italian football it has been contested overseas several times before. Washington played host in 1993, Tripoli in 2002 and New York in 2003.