Nice have punished Allan Saint-Maximin after the Milan target pulled out of their Ligue 1 defeat to Angers on Saturday.
That prompted the 21-year-old to hit back at Vieira and post a cryptic message on Instagram.
“Last weekend, Allan Saint-Maximin missed the trip to Angers,” began a Press release on the French club’s official website.
Nice have punished Allan Saint-Maximin after the Milan target pulled out of their Ligue 1 defeat to Angers on Saturday.
That prompted the 21-year-old to hit back at Vieira and post a cryptic message on Instagram.
“Last weekend, Allan Saint-Maximin missed the trip to Angers,” began a Press release on the French club’s official website.
“In line with the principles of OGC Nice and the Board, which place the club above everything else, Patrick Vieira spoke frankly about the reason for this absence when speaking to the Press after the match.
“The facts being that after returning to full training on Thursday and having been named in the squad, the Nice forward bypassed the protocol in place at the club for illness before a match, by simply sending a message during the night between Friday and Saturday, informing the club of his absence.
“Whilst the team prepared to fly to Angers, he refused to comply with his obligations to be seen by the club’s medical staff in order to be judged for/unfit to travel at the scheduled meeting time.
“Furthermore, his medical issue (stomach pain) did not justify this failure to attend, as the Club Doctor confirmed with certainty to Patrick Vieira after examining the player at his home address later in the day.
“Called to meet with Gauthier Ganaye and Patrick Vieira this Tuesday morning as the players returned to training, Allan Saint-Maximin was reminded of the obligations that apply to all OGC Nice players, then made aware of his punishment. The details of which will remain between the player and the club.
“With the player having accepted this punishment, the OGC Nice board and Patrick Vieira consider this chapter closed. All thoughts and energy will now turn to achieving sporting successes in the final games of the season.”
Saint-Maximin, who continues to be heavily linked with Milan, has six goals and three assists for Nice this season.