|
Home>News Center>Sports | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Ferdinand pledges loyalty to Old Trafford
England defender Rio Ferdinand responded to Sir Alex Ferguson's demand for an immediate decision on his future at Manchester United by declaring his intention to stay at Old Trafford.
Ferguson had warned earlier in the day that the club would not be "messed around" by the defender who has so far failed to sign a deal reputedly worth 100,000 pounds (191,000 dollars) a week. Both Ferguson and United fans alike have been irritated by the behaviour of Ferdinand who was purchased for a record 29 million pounds (55.5 million dollar) from Leeds two years ago. And further movement on the deal has been hampered by Ferdinand's agent Pini Zahavi flying out of the country on other business. But the 26-year-old Ferdinand insisted Friday that the delay is purely part of the negotiating process and he remains totally committed United. "I want to stay at Manchester United," he said. "I have said that from the beginning. "I can understand the fans' frustrations but people have to understand contract negotiations do not happen over one or two days. "They can take time and this is one of those situations. My agent is out of the country, which has slowed things down a touch but hopefully they will be speeded up in the coming days. "I am happy at Manchester United and I want to sign but these things do not happen overnight." Ferguson has made it clear that once Zahavi returns, he expects the situation to be resolved immediately. "There is nothing much we can do about Rio's agent being out of the country but when he gets back we want a decision," stressed Ferguson. "It is important to the Manchester United fans that they get one. "We are not going to be messed about. We have shown great faith in signing these players and we need to see it returned." Ferdinand's stock with United fans has fallen sharply after it was revealed he had dinner with Zahavi and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon in an exclusive London restaurant hours after a 2-0 defeat at Norwich on April 9. While Kenyon and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho have insisted no summer move for the England defender is planned, Ferguson remains suspicious about the motives behind the meeting. United supporters were equally hostile when Zahavi went public with his demands for a 120,000-pounds-a-week deal - a 70 percent rise on Ferdinand's current 3.5 million pound annual contract. Having not forgotten how the club stood by the former West Ham star during his eight-month suspension for a missed drugs test last year, many are furious at what they see as Zahavi holding United to ransom. Ferdinand, who is expected to be in the United side to face Charlton at The Valley on Sunday, has hardly been out of the spotlight in recent times. He was with Wayne Rooney on both occasions when the teenage striker was involved in recent nightclub spats, while Ferdinand himself became embroiled in a dispute with a photographer in London on Monday. Despite the negative publicity, he insists his form has not been affected. "I am okay," he said. "It hasn't really fazed me. I am here to do a job for Manchester United and play football. That is what I feel most comfortable doing. I feel safe in that environment."
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
