[Dirtycheat]

Rio talks to start 'shortly'

Rio Ferdinand's agent has told Sky Sports News that contract talks are planned with Manchester United 'shortly'.

The centre-half's current deal is due to expire in 2009 and the Premier League champions are keen to discuss an extension.

According to reports, the England international's representative Pini Zahavi wanted to wait until the summer before opening negotiations with United.

But Zahavi has told Sky Sports News that there is a 'plan to shortly begin talks between Rio Ferdinand and Manchester United'.

When the Red Devils do open discussions, the club will be hoping to avoid the protracted negotiations which characterised Ferdinand's last contract.

Ferdinand signed his current four-year deal in 2005, but only after several months of talks which resulted in him being booed by fans in a pre-season friendly.

The situation was eventually resolved and the 29-year-old has continued to be a mainstay of a United rearguard which has conceded just 15 league goals this season.

Since joining the club in a then-British transfer record from Leeds United in 2002, Ferdinand has made over 250 appearances, scoring seven goals.

And, having spent almost £30million on the player, United will be determined to avoid losing the former West Ham United youngster for nothing.

Sky Sports | Football | Premier League | News | Rio talks to start 'shortly'

i hope for the love of god that man united finally scrap the over-30 policy on this one. He is probably one of the best center backs in the world and replacing rio will almost be impossible because he is not also a great player but he also has a great impact on the team and lifts the players. I know he is not quite 30 yet but he will be 30 later this year.

Remember when he first came back after the "Drugs ban"?

He could probably force man united to give him a big contract simply because he cost us 30 million, he has been solid at the back and united need him.

[Torque]

For me Rio is a symbol of United. He is among some players that I can not imagine leaving. I think we'd better secure a contract until Rio will decide to retire. I honestly don't think he could leave, because he's a key player, does a good, solid job, team mates like him, fans love him and he is an English player which is very important! Plus he's a half of the best defense duo in the last two years.

[Q8I]

with his performance he could play 4 5 more years ..

im sure rio in his 35 can play like the 40 years old maldini .. even better y not !

[randy420]

I don't know if I'd go as far as saying that he is a symbol of United.. I don't view him as one. He's an excellent player for us, no doubt, but his 8 month ban cost us that season, and then his drawn out contract negotions a year later where he wanted more and more money took the piss. He had just kcufed up HUGE and dragged the club, who had paid him throughout his ban, and stood up for him while he was banned, through those long negotiations..

That's not a symbol of United, that's a symbol of a money gubbing cnut. I just hope that these negotiations don't last nearly as long and that it gets resolved quickly.

[Mark]

I agree with randy, he's not quite a simbol, but he's a famous united player, one of the oldest in the group, and still the most expensive defender. what's important about him is that he gives Vidic confidence. although he's not always perfect (and makes big mistakes sometimes, that cost us dearly), he is irreplaceable indeed (atm). and yes, I could see him playing at 35 and even more

[AmplifiedtoRock]

I don't know that Rio's got 5 solid years left in him. Anyone who's watched United closely over the years has seen that despite his generally excellent form, an increasingly large numbers of mistakes and patches of lazy play have snuck in. I'm certainly not likening Rio to Mikael Silvestre, but I'm a bit more concerned about a long term cover for Gary Neville than I am Rio.

That being said, I'm sure United will get Rio to agree to a sort of rolling one year contract along the lines of those we've seen them issue to senior players before. And I'll be all the happier for it.

[losangeles]

I also agree with what randy wrote. Rio owes United for what happened in the past contract negotiation and ban period. He should quietly agree to reasonable terms. I like Rio on the team, but he is not a symbol of the team - that being said, he is an important player.

[Dirtycheat]

A2R, i disagree. I think Rio has actually been a rock in defence for the most part of the last 2 years. You no longer see him defending lazily or making stupid mistakes. If anything, he has been there to clear the lines when united do make a mistake.


anyway, he says he wants to stay.....

Rio plans long United stay
Ferdinand wants to end career at Old Trafford

Originally Posted by Skysports

Rio Ferdinand is hoping to sign a new deal that will keep him at Manchester United for the rest of his career.

Ferdinand became the world's most expensive defender when he moved to Old Trafford from Leeds in 2002, and he quickly established himself as a key player in Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

He agreed a new four-year contract in 2005, although negotiations were protracted and there was briefly some speculation about his future with the club.

Ferdinand is looking to avoid such complications this time and put pen-to-paper on a long-term agreement.

"I want to finish my career at United and the plan is to sign a contract that will enable me to do that," he explained in the Sunday Mirror.

"I don't want to go over what happened before. I think it's obvious that I am happy at United.

"It's important to me that I can secure my future here. It's important for everyone to get themselves sorted out and I think the club are trying to tie down lots of players.

"That bodes well for the future of the club. It's a fantastic place to play, the fans are brilliant and I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be."

Ferdinand has revealed that the process is already underway, and he is anxious for the matter to be resolved as soon as possible.

He said: "The club have made contact with my agent and we'll go from there, but hopefully it will be done quickly."

Sky Sports | Football | News | Rio plans long United stay

[funkdoctorspock]

I personally feel that Rio will get this contract sorted out very quickly. I'm sure he remembers the fans rather vocal diagreement with him taking forever and a day to sign the last one.

Rio in my mind is one of the top 3 central defenders in the world. He's a leader and he seriously loves the club.

He'll be around for a long while.

[randy420]

Originally Posted by Dirtycheat

A2R, i disagree. I think Rio has actually been a rock in defence for the most part of the last 2 years. You no longer see him defending lazily or making stupid mistakes. If anything, he has been there to clear the lines when united do make a mistake.


anyway, he says he wants to stay.....

Rio plans long United stay
Ferdinand wants to end career at Old Trafford

Sky Sports | Football | News | Rio plans long United stay

away to Pompey last year, and away to Spurs last yer we both saw HUUUUUUUGE gaffes from Rio that led to a goal (pompey) and that almost led to a goal (Spurs)

He still makes some daft mistakes, but I think they're few and far between anymore really. I just remember those two from last season. I'll agree that for the most part that he's the rock of our defence, but he still makes a couple huge mistakes every now and again..