Manchester United Football Club

• Nickname:Red Devils
• Founded:1878
• Manager:David Moyes

• Ground:Old Trafford
• Capacity:68174

Rio close to new United deal

15 Apr 2008 - 08:53:07

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England international Rio Ferdinand has agreed a new five-year deal with Manchester United, according to the 29-year-old defender's agent.

The former West Ham and Leeds star has made 260 appearances in his six seasons at Old Trafford but was recently linked with a possible transfer to Barcelona.

That possibility now seems highly unlikely after Ferdinand's agent, Pini Zahavi, told the Daily Express: "This new deal will take him beyond 34, but it won't be his last contract and in all probability it won't be his last contract at Manchester United.

"Rio is very, very happy there. He wanted to stay and they wanted him to stay. Of course he could have gone to another big club but he didn't want to.

"I believe he can play longer than (Paolo) Maldini - and they believe so at Manchester United as well."