Vieira set to have a medical on Thursday afternoon before joining Manchester City on an 18-month contract.

The Frenchman is to leave Inter Milan in the pursuit of more regular first-team football as he bids to secure a place in France’s World Cup squad.

Roberto Mancini is a big fan of the player having worked with him during his time at the Inter helm and sees his experience as potentially being key to helping City qualify for the Uefa Champions League

Vieira who at 33 is still captain of his national side, is eager to be reunited with Mancini having set his heart on appearing in South Africa over the summer.

“I set myself an objective, I want to go to the World Cup,” he told Eurosport.

“The important thing for me is to go to Manchester City and to show the coach (Roberto Mancini) I’m the same player as when he was in charge of Inter.”

Inter captain Javier Zanetti has paid tribute to his departed team-mate, conceding the Frenchman will be missed.