Man United Veteran Rio Ferdinand Has No Plans to Retire

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Former England star hopes to stay at Old Trafford.

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Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand wants to carry on playing next season, although he is unsure whether his future lies at Old Trafford.

The 35-year-old, who joined the Red Devils in a £30m move from Leeds in 2002, is out of contract at the end of the season.

His central defensive partner, Nemanja Vidic, has already announced that he will leave United to join Inter Milan when his current deal expires in June.

Ferdinand would rather stay with the 20-time champions of England and he is waiting to see if he will be wanted by the club’s new manager, which is widely expected to be Dutchman Louis van Gaal.

“I am fit, I am healthy and I want to continue playing,” Sky Sports quote Ferdinand as saying.

“I have 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.

“The club at the moment is in a position where they can’t really make any decisions about anything.

“For me to be saying I want to do this or that is irrelevant, because we have 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, then I will respect it. After that I am open to offers.

“But I would rather wait and see what happens at United and then there will be a decision to be made.”

Ferdinand, who has been capped 81 times by England at senior international level, has made 311 Premier League appearances for United.

He has won six league titles with the Red Devils, as well as two League Cups, one Champions League and one FIFA Club World Cup.

If Ferdinand does leave United, he is likely to be in high demand. Arsenal are reportedly prepared to pounce should he become a free agent.

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