Soccer:Alex Ferguson insists he wants to keep Nemanja Vidic at Manchester United. The Serbian's future has been the subject of intense speculation for most of this season, with tomorrow's Champions League opponents AC Milan being linked with a summer move for Vidic and, more recently, Real Madrid.
Vidic’s continued absence from the United line-up with a nerve problem has not done much to dampen down the rumours, with claims surfacing that Ferguson is not greatly impressed with the former Spartak Moscow man’s attitude.
But if that opinion is true, Ferguson has a funny way of showing it judging by the forceful way he declared his desire for the 28-year-old to remain at Old Trafford.
“Of course we want him to stay,” said the Scot. “He is a great player. One of the best centre-backs in the world. Our players are the subject of speculation from time to time. You just have to deal with it.”
What Ferguson is unable to do is put a date on when Vidic is likely to return. The United boss did hint Vidic would be in his starting line-up for the defeat of Portsmouth at Old Trafford nine days ago. But he did not make that, or the trip to Aston Villa which followed.
And when the United party left Manchester for their attempt to overcome AC Milan at the San Siro for the first time this morning, Vidic was not there either.
“It is a difficult one,” said Ferguson. “He feels he needs to do a lot of training and has been training for the past 10 days but he doesn’t feel ready to take part in games.
“It is something we have to be patient with and that is what we are doing at the moment.”
Ferguson must now decide whether to play Jonny Evans or Wes Brown as partner to new England skipper Rio Ferdinand in central defence.
Ryan Giggs is also missing after breaking an arm in last week's draw at Aston Villa, but the remainder of United's first-team squad, with the exception of out-of-favour midfielder Anderson, made the two-hour trip for a meeting with the seven-time winners who have beaten United on all four occasions they have met in a two-legged European tie.
Despite missing the tie Giggs spoke about David Beckham's date with his former employers.
"We are different in the sense he has been in the limelight, front page and back, while I prefer to keep myself to myself," said Giggs.
"But I still speak to him. He has not changed as a person. He has always loved football. He has always been dedicated and that is still the same now. Like myself, Becks looks after himself.
"He is naturally fit and is a natural athlete, so I am not surprised he is still going at all. In fact I reckon he will keep going for another three or four years."
All those seasons of sharing a dressing room and celebrating honours together came to an abrupt end in 2003 when Ferguson let Beckham leave for Real Madrid, the relationship between the pair fractured as much by the influence of wife Victoria as anything the 34-year-old did wrong on the pitch.
That rift was only healed 12 months ago when Beckham shook hands with his old mentor before an encounter with Inter Milan in the same stadium at exactly the same stage of the competition. Now they are finally on opposite sides, with Giggs admitting he is surprised the reunion took so long.
"We had a couple of chances to meet when he was at Real Madrid but it is great that it will finally happen and great for Becks to come back," he said. "It will be fantastic for the fans to see him again because he was a great player for United and still is a great player for England and Milan and in America as well."
But Giggs, like the rest of his team-mates, is acutely aware United cannot get sucked into the nostalgia. Whilst the former Wales skipper will now be powerless to prevent Beckham causing United damage, he knows that is exactly what will happen if the Old Trafford outfit offer him the chance.
"I hope he doesn't do anything nasty to us," said Giggs. "He is a quality player and has always risen to the occasion. With the right foot he has he can just ping balls 50 yards or make a five or 10-yard pass. He has amazing accuracy.
"And we must try not to give free-kicks away from 25 or 30 yards out because he is capable of putting them into the top corner. Hopefully he will enjoy it - but not that much."'
-PA