Dazzling decade for Rio

Rio Ferdinand is proud to be closing in on a 10–year association with Manchester United.

A club record £29.1million signing from Leeds, the 33–year–old will complete a decade with the Red Devils in July.

He aims to mark the event by celebrating a sixth Premier League title and will be part of a United squad looking to defend their eight–point lead at the summit by claiming a win at Wigan tonight.

It may come as a surprise to some that the Londoner could end up being bracketed with Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, whose local connections forge a more obvious bond with the Red Devils.

A decade ago, Old Trafford seemed like just another stepping stone for the most stylish England defender of his generation. But Ferdinand insists that was never his intention.

"My association with the club will be there forever," he said. “I wanted to be part of the history of this club and to do that I have to stay here for a good amount of time.

"I achieved that and hopefully I have a few more chapters. When I hang up my boots, I have great memories to take away.”


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