Ferdinand pledges future to United

Rio Ferdinand says he intends to see out his career at Manchester United.

As the United squad prepare to face Wigan on Saturday, Ferdinand is set to make his 400th appearance for the club in a glittering 10-year spell that has seen him win the Premier League trophy on five occasions, the League Cup twice, the FA Cup once, and the Champions League once.

Ferdinand has one year remaining on his contract, but has told The Sun about his plans for the future.

“However long the manager wants me here, and my body can take it, I want to stay at this club,” the 33-year-old said.

“From the day I signed I always said that when I leave United I want to be able to walk out with my head held high and my chest puffed out knowing I did a good job.

“But I can’t say that yet because the job isn’t finished. It is still a work in progress.

“The over-30s at United know how it works, that the club will come to you and offer another deal if they still think you are up to it.

“We’ve seen that with Paul Scholes this year and he hasn’t done too badly has he? So I’m not in a panic, I’m just getting on with it and giving United everything I have.

“I’m proud of playing 400 times for this great club although part of me thinks it could have been 500 if I hadn’t had those injuries over the last couple of seasons.

“That’s another good reason for keeping going to make up for lost time. I feel good now. I’m over the injuries and enjoying my football as much as ever.”

The defender said he has turned down offers from other clubs during his tenure at Old Trafford.

“I’ve had offers, like a lot of the lads have, but why would you ever want to leave this club?” he said.

“There are very few players whose career has got better after leaving United, it usually goes down, not up.

“I have always been aware of that and realised there is no reason to want to play somewhere different. If I was going to move abroad it was more likely in my West Ham days.

“But United has everything, the history and traditions, the ability to win all the big competitions and a stature in the game which is unrivalled in my opinion.”