Nemanja Vidic and Manchester United Reportedly Agree to New Contract

Nemanja Vidic has reportedly put pen to paper on a 12-month contract extension at Manchester United, ending speculation suggesting the central defender could leave Old Trafford at the conclusion of the season.

Jeremy Cross of the Daily Star reports the Serbian stalwart has joined Michael Carrick by pledging his immediate future to the club:

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Carrick has penned a two-year deal that could see him stay at Old Trafford for the rest of his career, while captain Vidic has agreed a 12-month extension to his contract.

Both stars were in the final 12 months of their current deals and had been attracting interest from rivals clubs.

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Jamie Sanderson of Metro suggests Juventus and AC Milan were interested in the behemoth before he inked a new deal.

Vidic continues to play an important role in David Moyes' side and has represented the Red Devils on 11 occasions this season, per WhoScored.com. Despite a number of niggling injuries and the pitfalls of age, the 32-year-old still represents United's most intimidating defender.

The former Spartak Moscow player put in an excellent shift against Arsenal until he was forced off with a horrific head injury, as reported by Sky Sports.

His partnership with Rio Ferdinand has come to a halt, as United can no longer play two veteran defenders alongside each other without suffering a noticeable loss of pace at the back.

Even so, Vidic's commanding presence has helped United overcome a terrible start to the Premier League campaign. The team dropped points against West Brom and Southampton—both matches Vidic didn't feature in, which demonstrates his importance.

It is extremely important for Moyes to maintain some of the club's older players during his first few seasons in charge.

The former Everton boss will undoubtedly begin to build his own team, starting in January, but will need to call upon the experience of Vidic and Carrick during difficult moments.

Much like Sir Alex Ferguson before him, Moyes' tenure can be defined by his relationship with United's most loyal servants. As the current transition gathers momentum, it is figures such as Vidic who can keep the dressing room calm and pass vital knowledge onto the club's younger stars.

Moyes' decision to tie the defender up is a positive one and represents a smart move as United look to retain the Premier League title.   

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