[bbfan1991]

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is delighted to have secured a new deal for Nemanja Vidic.

The 28-year-old centre-half has agreed a four-year contract extension at Old Trafford, despite speculation linking him with a move away last season.

Vidic reportedly had a bust-up with Ferguson and the likes of Real Madrid were thought to be sniffing around the Serbia international, but he has now committed to the Red Devils.

The news comes as a welcome boost for United given Rio Ferdinand's persistent fitness problems, and Ferguson was pleased to get the deal done.

He said: "In the modern day game it is not easy renewing players' contracts when they do well, particularly those from other countries.

"Over the last year or so there has been speculation about Nemanja time and time again, sometimes by the press, sometimes fuelled by other sources.

"But we never had a strong feeling he really wanted to leave. There is always concern if they do well they want better contracts.

"At the end of the day we have managed to achieve the task of getting him to agree a four-year contract.

"We are delighted, he is fantastic centre-half, a great competitor with a marvellous attitude to winning games. It strengthens our hand."

Vidic has been at United for four-and-a-half years, having signed for the club from Spartak Moscow in 2006.