Patrick Vieira to focus on Manchester City not France

Vieira helps France win the World Cup in 98'

Patrick Vieira has insisted he is not interested in trying to regain his place in the France squad.

The Manchester City midfielder, 34, was not selected for the World Cup but was a member of the triumphant 1998 squad.

And with Raymond Domenech replaced by Laurent Blanc as manager following France's poor showing in South Africa Vieira could have won a recall.

But he told the club's website: "My target in the next few years is City. I want to do my best for the club."

Vieira failed to make Domench's initial 30-man squad for the World Cup and then watched as a spectator as the final group of 23 drew their opener against Uruguay before losses to Mexico and South Africa saw them eliminated at the earliest stage.

France's campaign was also marred by infighting, with Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka sent home after refusing to apologise for verbally abusing Domenech, with the squad subsequently boycotting a training session by way of protest.

And while Blanc, a former international team-mate of Vieira, has stated that some of the current squad members might not be reselected, Vieira has little intention of filling any vacancy that might occur.

Having only joined City in January, becoming Roberto Mancini's first signing in the process, Vieira indicated he is keen to repay the faith the management displayed in recently offering him a one-year contract extension.

"My focus is on City, nothing else," he added.

"I want to repay the trust of the manager, [football administrator] Brian Marwood and [chief executive] Garry Cook."

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Twice a Premier League and FA Cup double winner with Arsenal, Vieira made 13 appearances for City last season, though only eight as starts, and will face further competition for a place at the heart of the midfield next season following the acquisition of Yaya Toure from Barcelona for £24m.

At international level, as well as helping France win the World Cup on home soil in 1998, he played in the 2006 final as they lost to Italy and the final of Euro 2000 where they beat the same opposition 2-1.

However, although selected for Euro 2008 he failed to get on the pitch because of injury and his last international appearance came as captain against Nigeria in June last year in a match they lost 1-0.