Braida: Milan made Vieira mistake but Totti ‘would have won the Ballon d’Or’

Former Milan director Ariedo Braida reveals he tried ‘many times’ to sign Francesco Totti and admits the Rossoneri ‘made a mistake’ by selling Patrick Vieira to Arsenal in 1996.

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Former Milan director Braida reveals Roma and Italy legend Totti repeatedly rejected the chance to join the Rossoneri during his playing career.

Braida tried to sign Totti ‘many times’ at Milan

“I tried to sign him many times. Both when he was a youngster and after he had already become an established champion,” Braida told Tuttosport.

Totti scored 307 goals in 785 competitive matches for Roma, where he spent his entire career.

“But he always kept his word. He didn’t want to leave Roma, and in fact, he stayed there his entire career. I respect him a lot for that, even though every time we meet, I tell him: ‘Francesco, it’s a shame you didn’t listen to me. You would have won the Ballon d’Or.”

Braida contributed to building some of the most successful and exciting teams in the history of the game at San Siro, but naturally, there were some errors too.

When asked which player did not live up to expectations, the ex-Milan director replied: “Easy. Patrick Vieira. A formidable midfielder.

“We signed him in November 1995 when he was only 19. In that Milan full of champions, he struggled to find space, and we made a mistake by not waiting for him. I’m pleased that a few years ago, he said I’m his Italian father. I was sure he would become a great player, but the competition in Milan was extremely high.”

Vieira only played two games at Milan in 1995-96 before joining Arsenal, where he’d spent the following nine seasons.

The French legend returned to Serie A in 2005 to play for Juventus and then moved to Inter, where he played from 2006 until January 2010.

Vieira ended his career after an 18-month spell at Manchester City.