Sir Alex Ferguson insists he wants to keep Nemanja Vidic at
Manchester United, despite talk of the defender leaving Old
Trafford in the summer.
The Serbian's future has been the subject of intense
speculation for most of this season, with Tuesday's Champions
League opponents AC Milan being linked with a summer move for Vidic
and, more recently, Real Madrid.
Vidic's continued absence from the United line-up with a
nerve problem has not done much to dampen down the rumours, with
claims surfacing that Ferguson is not greatly impressed with the
former Spartak Moscow man's attitude.
But if that opinion is true, Ferguson has a funny way of
showing it judging by the forceful way he declared his desire for
the 28-year-old to remain at Old Trafford.
"Of course we want him to stay," said the Scot. "He is a
great player. One of the best centre-backs in the world. "
"Our players are the subject of speculation from time to
time. You just have to deal with it."
What Ferguson is unable to do is put a date on when Vidic is
likely to return. The United boss did hint Vidic would be in his
starting line-up for the defeat of Portsmouth at Old Trafford nine
days ago.
But he did not make that, or the trip to Aston Villa which
followed.
And when the United party left Manchester for their attempt
to overcome AC Milan at the San Siro for the first time on Monday
morning, Vidic was not there either.
"It is a difficult one," said Ferguson. "He feels he needs to
do a lot of training and has been training for the past 10 days but
he doesn't feel ready to take part in games.
"It is something we have to be patient with and that is what
we are doing at the moment."
