The Serbian Rock puts pen to paper.

Nemanja Vidic has finally put pen to paper on a new 4 year contract four weeks after David Gill announced that a verbal agreement had been reached with the commanding centre half. The Serbian International had been linked with a move away from Old Trafford for most of last season and the rumours did appear to unsettle the defender somewhat.

The more cynical fans, like myself, will feel that Vidic  negotiated a pay rise by effectively holding the club to ransom, but you know what? He deserves every penny of it. Vidic is widely acknowledged as one of the best central defenders in the world and his performances for most of his United career have been nothing short of inspiring.

I have to add though that while he deserves to be paid very well, money wasn’t his only consideration.

As a fellow red JSNFRMN_MUFC mentioned on twitter: “What Vidic gets with us is nothing compared to what he could have got elsewhere. Money is a small factor.”

To Nemanja’s credit, he chose not to follow the money. He could have signed for the usual suspects who are throwing around silly money, but knows that he is at the right club with which he has learned and achieved so much.

A sight that would scare most football teams...

(photo courtesy of Ben Hibbs/manutd.com)

A statement taken from the clubs official site, manutd.com:

Nemanja Vidic has signed a new four-year contract, keeping him at Manchester United until at least June 2014.

The news comes four weeks after the club issued a statement making public both its and the player’s desire for Vidic to remain at Old Trafford. At that stage, however, the deal was merely agreed, not signed. These latest developments, coming via a club statement released on Friday afternoon, cement the 28-year-old’s long-term future.

Vidic, who has made 188 appearances since joining United in January 2006, told ManUtd.com: “I am very happy to sign this contract. I came to this club when I was young and have developed enormously with the help of the manager, coaching staff and my team-mates.

“During my time here we have had a lot of success and I look forward to continuing that success in the coming seasons.”

Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson told ManUtd.com: “We are delighted Nemanja has committed his future to the club. This kills all the silly speculation over the past few months.

“Nemanja has developed into one of the best centre-halves in Europe and we are pleased he will be here for many years to come.”