Marouane Fellaini 1-Year Contract Extension Confirmed by Manchester United

Manchester United have exercised their option of a one-year extension on Marouane Fellaini's contract, the club announced on Thursday.

Per Adam Marshall for the club's website, the Belgium international's four-year deal was due to expire this summer, but he will now remain at Old Trafford until the end of next season.

Fellaini was signed by former United manager David Moyes in 2013 and has made 107 appearances for the Red Devils.

The former Everton man has not always been a popular figure at Old Trafford, with many United fans unconvinced he's of the required quality for the team to challenge for the Premier League title and in the UEFA Champions League.

Indeed, his lack of mobility slows the tempo at which the team play, and there's also a noticeable gulf in technical quality between him and the likes of Paul Pogba, Ander Herrera and Michael Carrick in the Red Devils' midfield.

Further, his frequent fouls and clumsy challenges sometimes prove costly, as they did against Everton last month, per Squawka News:

Fellaini isn't without his strengths, though—he's a hardworking presence in the centre, while his physical and aerial prowess are also useful assets to the squad.

He proved as much on Tuesday as he scored to help United record a 2-0 win over Hull City in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final.

Football writer Liam Canning and Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News hailed his contribution:

The extension may well signal another season at Old Trafford for the 29-year-old, though as ESPN's Mark Ogden noted, it may just be a sound business decision from the Red Devils:

Indeed, after spending £27.5 million on him, it's understandable United will hope to recoup what they can for him rather than see him leave for nothing.

If Fellaini is to avoid being moved on in the summer and actually see out another year with the club, he needs to continue showing his usefulness to the squad during the opportunities he's given.