Nemanja Vidic Joins Inter Milan
By Opeyemi Oladunjoye
Former Manchester United captain, Nemanja Vidic has declared he is looking forward to a new challenge in Serie A as he was unveiled to the media today after joining Inter Milan as a free agent this summer having spent eight seasons at Old Trafford.
“I should have arrived to Italy many years ago”, the Serbian defender said to inter milan’s website “Finally I have the opportunity to play here. “I don’t think this is a step backwards in my career, I believe this is a step forward for me.
“Italian football suits my game well and, as I said before, I have joined one of the big European clubs. English football is different to Italian but that doesn’t mean that Italian is more simple.”
The 32-year-old has signed a three-year contract with the Nerazzurri outfit and says he is ready to help Inter return to winning ways in Italy and in Europe.
“Inter is one of the top clubs in the world, with a great history and tradition,” he said. “There was a new project in place and I immediately liked it.
“When Inter made an approach, there were many other clubs interested in me but not AC Milan. I’m happy to be here. I know the (club) president (Erick Thohir) has a long term plan and he wants to keep Inter at a high level.”
Vidic joined United from Spartak Moscow in 2006 and enjoyed a trophy-filled eight-year spell at Old Trafford, including five Premier League titles, one UEFA Champions League trophy and a FIFA Club World Cup.
Reports in Italy claim Vidic could be handed the captain’s armband after Inter’s long-term skipper Javier Zanetti retired from football last month. Vidic has however denied such rumours saying: “First of all I have to earn a place on the pitch, I’ve always given my best regardless of whether I have the captain’s armband.
“Even if I had stayed at United I would not have played in the Champions League,” Vidic said. “We will play in the Europa League. I don’t regret joining Inter. A club like Inter always has important ambitions and we will just have to make this club proud.”