Ferdinand : Manchester United will regret Vidic exit

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand fears that the club could end up regretting Nemanja Vidic's departure - just as they did Jaap Stam's exit in 2001.

Vidic, 32, will join Inter in the summer after opting not to renew his contract and Ferdinand has compared the loss to that of Stam - of whom Sir Alex Ferguson later admitted that "in playing terms, it was a mistake" to let the Dutch centre-half go at the age of 29.

Stam was sold to Lazio in the summer of 2001 and went on to play at the top level with various clubs for another six years.

"Only time will tell if Man United regret allowing [Vidic] to leave," Ferdinand told reporters at the launch of BBC Sport's World Cup coverage.

"Obviously Jaap Stam played on for quite a few years at a good level after he left Man United and the same thing could happen with Nemanja. He's a great player and it's a shame he had to leave."

The 35-year-old Ferdinand could join Vidic in leaving Old Trafford this summer with his contract also due to expire.

The former England captain was coy on his future, insisting that no decision will be made until David Moyes's long-term successor - who will be Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal - has been confirmed.

"I'm fit, I'm healthy and I want to continue playing," Ferdinand added. "I've spoken to a lot of mates of mine in the game and they all say the same thing - keep playing for as long as you can. I want to do that.

"The club at the moment is in a position where they can't really make any decisions about anything. For me to be saying that I want to do this or that is irrelevant.

"We've got to see who becomes the new manager and boxes will be ticked from there.

"I just want the best solution for the club. Whatever it is, I'll respect it and, after that, I'm open to offers. I'd rather wait and see what happens at United and then there'll be a decision made."

Read More»

Rio Ferdinand keen to extend Manchester United stay

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand says he is happy at Old Trafford and has reiterated his desire to renew his contract with the club.

The 35-year-old's current deal is set to expire at the end of the season and, with no talks having taken place over an extension, he has been linked with a summer move to a host of clubs, including LA Galaxy.

But, just 24 hours after caretaker manager Ryan Giggs called on the club to extend Ferdinand's one-year deal, the former England international has admitted he is keen to stay put – though he concedes he will have to wait to see if the club's new permanent manager intends to retain his services.

“Obviously I'll be waiting, playing the games until the end of the season and see what happens,” Ferdinand told BT Sport in an exclusive interview. “See if a new manager comes in or Giggsy gets the job, whoever, we'll have to wait and see.

“I feel fit, I feel healthy, I feel good. I'm enjoying my football so I'll definitely be playing on for another year, hopefully two or three more. But I'll take it year by year and hopefully another year.

“The most important thing is the club and the club's position with who they go with and once that's sorted out then everything else can take place after.

“As I said I'm happy here, I love playing my football. Manchester United's been great for me, it's enabled my dreams to come true and a lot of the things in football for me. So I have to respect whatever decision the club do and I'll do what's best by the club.”

David Moyes was sacked two weeks ago having overseen a wretched campaign – United currently sit in seventh – and Ferdinand believes Giggs has restored the feel-good factor at Old Trafford.

“The season hasn't gone to plan, it hasn't gone as well as what we want it as a club,” he added. “You don't like looking at the league table. When you're top of the league or fighting for the league you're always looking at the table, every morning you wake up, it's in your mind.

“Right now it's not something you want to look at, it's not pretty. So it's not been good in that sense and we want to see it improving and obviously the changing of management, Giggsy and (Paul) Scholesy, (Nicky) Butty, Phil (Neville) and the others are in charge now and it's been good.

“It's been 10 days or so now we've had with them, enjoying the training and stuff. Giggsy seems to have taken to it really well.”

Read More»

Moyes : Rio Ferdinand still valued at Manchester United

Manchester United manager David Moyes has insisted he still considers Rio Ferdinand a valuable member of his Old Trafford squad.

The former England captain has struggled with injuries this term, falling behind Jonny Evans and Phil Jones in the pecking order, making just seven Premier League appearances this season.

But with Jones and Evans doubts for Sunday's visit of bottom-of-the-table Fulham, Moyes says Ferdinand could return to the starting line-up after making just two outings in the last two months.

"Rio is back training," Moyes told reporters. "He is back and we will continue to use Rio at the right times and the right moments.

"He has made a great contribution, especially in the first half of the season. He has competition for centre half, but he is very much valued and looked at as one of the senior players here."

Moyes also revealed that Ferdinand helped him make the transition to Old Trafford after being named as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor.

He added: "He was a big part in helping me to settle. He helped me get my feet under the table a little bit."

Read More»