Ferdinand agrees 5 Year Contract

Source : Compilation from Times Online

Author : Oliver Kay

Link : http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3746867.ece


Its all joy at OT now after beating Arsenal , the happiness will increase with news that Rio Ferdinand has reached a provisional agreement over a new five-year contract that will keep him at the club beyond his 33rd birthday.

Earlier Pini Zahavi, Ferdinand's agent, had said that he wished to wait until the summer before discussing an extension to the England defender's contract, which expires in just over 12 months. But Ferdinand, having decided to commit his future to United, was eager to bring talks forward and, after conversations between Zahavi and David Gill, the club's chief executive, a deal has been agreed in principle and will be signed shortly.

The new agreement with Ferdinand has long been a top priority. It is not yet clear whether United have agreed to increase Ferdinand's salary, which is just over £100,000 a week, but the new contract will delight Sir Alex Ferguson, who had feared that the defender might be tempted to move overseas.

Negotiations over his previous contract took 16 months - involving considerable angst and, at one point, the arrival of a gang of balaclava-clad United fans on the player's doorstep, telling him to “sign or else†- but this has been a remarkably swift process, reflecting Ferdinand's increased sense of belonging at Old Trafford.


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Rio only has only agreed in principle . The deal has not yet been signed