Rio to extend his stay

Not the whisper of a new signing but the keeping of an old one.  Rio Ferdinand is soon to sign off on a one-year extension to his contract with Manchester United.  The Daily Star is reporting that the deal, which will mean Ferdinand will have been at the Manchester club for 12 seasons, is due to be negotiated over the next month.

Rio Ferdinand has been integral to Manchester United since his record-breaking £30 million move from Leeds United in 2002.  He has often had problems with injuries and random drug tests that have meant he has been unavailable for long stretches of time but when he is available he is one the most important players at Old Trafford. 

Fitness permitting he will continue to play and, I am sure, continue to shine.  I had the good fortune to see him play for England in an extraordinary, pulse-raising 0-0 draw in a World Cup Qualifier against Montenegro and he was the best player on the field by a mile and possibly the best player I have seen play and I saw Robert Rosario in his pomp.

He has recently gone on record with the Daily Mail to say that United’s defence needs sorting out and if Ferguson manages to tie him down to a new contract Rio will be the man to do it.

Peter Stickney

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