• Premier League

United ready new Vidic contract to stave off Real Madrid

ESPN Soccernet staff
July 23, 2010
Nemanja Vidic is highly rated by Jose Mourinho © Getty Images
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Manchester United are reportedly ready to offer Nemanja Vidic a new four-year contract worth £90,000-a-week to ward off interest from Real Madrid.

Vidic has two years left on his current deal worth £70,000-a-week, but his future has been under the microscope of late and Sir Alex Ferguson admitted after United's friendly win over Philadelphia Union that he "couldn't clarify" the Serbian's ongoing position at the club.

The British press claim United's American owners, the Glazers, will abandon their usual policy of waiting until players have one year remaining at the club before opening negotiations to secure the 28-year-old defender for the prime seasons of his career.

The news follows comments by Vidic's agent suggesting Real had yet to make an official approach for the player they have been heavily linked with since early last season.

Silvano Martino told Italy Sport Press: "Real Madrid? So far the Spanish club has not contacted us. The player is on holiday in Mallorca and he is thinking about next season with Manchester United. It is difficult for him to leave England even if with the market open anything can happen."

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