Michael Carrick, Manchester United Agree to New Contract: Details, Reaction

Manchester United have confirmed midfielder Michael Carrick has put pen to paper on a one-year contract extension with the club.  

Manager Louis van Gaal announced the news on MUTV, and it was confirmed by the Red Devils on their official Twitter account:

Carrick posted the following image on Instagram:

Van Gaal noted just how influential he feels the player is after revealing the news, per MUTV (via the club’s official website): "He is for me my second captain behind Wayne Rooney and he can also read the game as a team player so that’s very important. He has also an excellent pass forward. I like as a manager passers forward so that’s very important for me."    

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Despite his advancing years, the 33-year-old is a player who clearly remains a key part of Van Gaal’s plans. His ability was there for all to see in United’s recent 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur, as the England man controlled the midfield with a patented distinction before getting on the scoresheet himself.

As noted by Squawka Football, Carrick's use of the ball remains incomparable to anyone else in United's squad:

The England man’s campaign has been punctured by injuries up to now, but he’s shown how valuable he is on myriad occasions by steadying the ship at the base of the midfield and even filling in at centre-back from time to time.

PAUL THOMAS/Associated Press

United will surely spend big again this summer, and with that in mind, players like Carrick are even more important. Van Gaal needs to preserve some degree of stability within this group, and provided he can stay fit, the midfielder still has the requisite quality to be a vital cog in this United machine.