So much for the idiotic Spanish press who insisted that he was already signing with Madrid. AS, and Soccernet were right there with Marca in reporting he was keen to leave Manchester:
from soccernet:
Nemanja Vidic has put an end to months of speculation about his future by agreeing a new "long-term" contract with Manchester United and Wayne Rooney could be next, chief executive David Gill has confirmed.
Vidic was reported to be unhappy * with life in Manchester and has been the subject of prolonged speculation, with Real Madrid and AC Milan both thought to be admirers of the Serbia international.
But Vidic will continue to play a key role under Sir Alex Ferguson next season after the club revealed an agreement has been found to extend a contract that still had two years left to run.
Gill told MUTV: "I am very pleased to confirm that we agreed terms with Nemanja three or four weeks ago on a new long-term deal with the club.
"We sat down with Nemanja and his advisor at the end of last season and started discussions. They broke up when Nemanja went away to the World Cup, but resumed when Serbia were knocked out.
"It's yet to be signed - the paperwork is now being sorted by our lawyers and being checked by Nemanja's advisors. He's still away on holiday but the plan is that when he gets back the papers will be signed.
"We've shaken hands on it and we're confident it will all be signed and sealed in early August. It's great news for Manchester United and great news for Nemanja and the fans.
"There was a lot of speculation about Nemanja's future, but in my view it's been the media drumming some old stories. They certainly didn't come out of the Manchester United camp and I'm confident they didn't come out of Nemanja's camp.''
Vidic joined United from Spartak Moscow for £7 million in January 2006 and after a period of acclimatisation established himself as one of the finest defenders in the Premier League.
His partnership with Rio Ferdinand helped United secure successive Premier League title wins in 2007, 2008 and 2009 - with Vidic named in the PFA Team of the Year on each occasion - and he also enjoyed Champions League success in 2008.
Ferdinand wrote on his Twitter account: "Love that Vida is staying, great news for our club!" ****
On Thursday, Ferguson was reluctant to give any assurances over Vidic's future but the Scot will now be delighted to have kept the defender out of the clutches of some of Europe's biggest clubs
Gill has also confirmed that United will seek to open contract talks with Wayne Rooney once the player links up with the club following his holiday. Rooney has been given time off following England's World Cup campaign in South Africa. His current contract expires in 2012.
"The current intention is to meet with Wayne and his advisors when we're back from tour and he's back from holiday with a view to sorting out a new deal for him," Gill said.
"It's clear from what he has said and what the club have said that both parties are very keen to sort things out and secure his long-term future at United. Given his desires and what he means to the club we're very confident that can be achieved." [end story]
* the months of speculation was fomented by soccernet and their "sources," along with the other twits of the footy press world, Marca, and AS.
**** NO MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYER HAS AN OFFICIAL TWITTER OR FACEBOOK PAGE, as was reported just this week by United. Wonderful sources, soccernet! *rolls eyes*
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