French hero Robert Pires joined Arsenal yesterday after a hectic schedule that saw him travel from Rotterdam to London and then Paris to enjoy the nation's European Championship celebrations.
Pires, who laid on the winner against Italy for David Trezeguet, decided to leave Marseille for Highbury instead of Real Madrid.
He is one of two new midfielders recruited by Arsenal with the club also confirming the arrival of Edu from Brazilian champions Corinthians. Both men, who came for undisclosed fees, are on long-term contracts, with Pires on a four-year deal.
Manager Arsene Wenger is thrilled to have them on board. "We will again be challenging for the Premiership title and hoping to make further progress in the Champions League, so we are very pleased to sign Pires and Edu," he said.
Pires is excited at the prospect of linking up with fellow Frenchmen Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit and Gilles Grimandi.
"The past month has been like a dream for me, firstly to win Euro 2000 with France and now joining such a great club," said the 26-year-old international.
"I have signed a four-year deal with Arsenal. I am happy, I have a new club and I am happy to link up again with my French friends. I have great admiration and respect for Arsene Wenger."
Edu, who has Portuguese dual nationality and therefore will not require a permit, has helped Corinthians win the title the last two seasons as well as the 2000 World club championship. He will become the second Brazilian at Highbury with Silvinho already established at the club.
Meanwhile, Italy coach Dino Zoff had salt rubbed into the festering wounds of Italy's 2-1 Euro 2000 final defeat by France when AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi launched an astonishing tirade against him yesterday.
Berlusconi, a former Italian prime minister, described Zoff as a "dilettante" - a word used to describe someone who is unprofessional in their approach. "He has behaved like a dilettante," said Berlusconi, who described Zoff's performance during Euro 2000 as "unworthy".
"I am indignant," continued Berlusconi before criticising Zoff for not man-marking French playmaker Zinedine Zidane in the Euro 2000 Final - although Zidane's performance in the final was arguably his least impressive in the tournament.
"Even a dilettante would have understood, even a dilettante would have put a man on Zidane. The problem is we need someone with some intelligence in his brain while he (Zoff) has none."
