Inter midfielder Patrick Vieira is to undergo a medical at Manchester City on Thursday before signing an 18-month contract.
Jose Mourinho confirmed that Vieira would leave Inter following the club’s 1-0 victory over Chievo on Wednesday and Vieira has now said he wants to reunite with Roberto Mancini at Eastlands to improve his hopes of representing France at the World Cup.
“I wanted to go to the World Cup and I need playing time,” he told Canal Plus. “It’s over, after a year in Turin and three and a half years in Milan.
“I have objectives and I can’t achieve them by staying at Inter where I am not part of the coach’s choice.
“What’s important for me is to go to Manchester City, to show the coach that I am the same as I was during the period when he was at Inter. All this will help me get into the France team.”
Vieira has played 12 league games for Inter this season as well as two in the Champions League.
Inter captain Javier Zanetti has paid tribute to his departed team-mate, admitting the Frenchman will be missed.
“We’ll miss Vieira so much, both as a player and as a man,” he said. “I wish him a great career. I’m proud to say I played with him, we regret that he goes away.”
