Defender wants Old Trafford contract extension
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has targeted signing a new contract at Old Trafford with just six months left on his current deal.
Ferdinand has continued to play an integral role in the United defence this season despite advancing past his 34th birthday – albeit with the Premier League leaders having a tendency to concede sloppy goals.
Sir Alex Ferguson has yet to open talks with Ferdinand or his representatives over a new contract, but the veteran centre-back believes he still has plenty to offer despite Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling all vying to replace him as Nemanja Vidic’s partner at the heart of the United defence.
Rio Ferdinand is keen to extend his stay with Manchester United beyond the end of the season and is unconcerned by a lack of discussions about a new contract.
“Of course I would want to stay, 100 per cent, provided I’m still playing like I am and feeling as good as I am at the moment,” Ferdinand told The Sun. “Manchester United is a great club, the number one, and you would never want to play anywhere else if you can still play for them.
“I want to be able to contribute properly and to be a player they actually need. You can tell if you’re not really needed at a club any more. You just know.
“We are not in discussions about a new contract at the moment and I’m fine with that because of the understanding I have with the manager. I don’t expect to be treated any different to the other older players like Giggsy or Scholesy, who normally sign on again at the end of the season.”
Ferguson has put his faith in the older generation at Manchester United, keeping the likes of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes at the club to play bit-part roles and aid in the development of some of the best young talent at Old Trafford.
Ferdinand, who has been at United for more than a decade having joined from Leeds United in 2002, could well be in the same bracket in being offered a one-year extension to his contract to remain part of the Old Trafford set-up.