Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira was reportedly keen on joining Tottenham Hotspur, according to Harry Redknapp.
French midfielder Vieira spent nine years with Arsenal, where he helped the North London side win three Premier League titles.
However, the former Arsenal captain was reportedly keen on joining their rivals Spurs, a decision which former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp thought was ‘incredible’.
“Patrick Vieira was a different type of midfield player and one every club would like to take now,” a passage in Redknapp’s book reads.
“He almost came to me at Tottenham from Inter Milan. I thought it was an incredible decision by him, after he’d been such a hero at Arsenal.
“I met him at his house in Hampstead and he had no fear about what people would think or what reception he would get. He had enough confidence in his ability to just brush it away.
“I remember talking to Daniel Levy, our chairman, about him. He said the crowd would be hostile.
“I knew that – but if he had enough bottle to want to put on our white shirt after all that had gone before, I thought it said something about the man.
“In the end, his circumstances changed and he decided to stay in Italy.
“By the time he did become available – the following January – our needs had changed and Manchester City snapped him up.”