New Nice coach Patrick Vieira insists he could yet return to Manchester City in the future.

Vieira spent eight years as part of the City Football Group, with the last two-and-a-half as head coach at New York City FC before taking the plunge to take charge of Ligue 1 side Nice.

He wrote for The Times: "Taking up the opportunity to become manager of Nice was not a decision that I made in a day or a week. It took a long time of deliberation.

"To leave the City group when they have been so supportive for eight years was not something to do lightly but I felt that, after two and a half seasons in MLS, this was an offer I could not turn down, the right next step.

"I think the City hierarchy understand why and we shook hands with great mutual respect. Who knows if we will be working together in the future but I will always be grateful for all the support they gave me as a player and then a coach."