The Times:
‘Sir Alex Ferguson has indicated that he is losing patience with Rio Ferdinand over the defender’s hesitancy in signing a lucrative extension to his contract at Old Trafford. It is 11 days since Ferdinand was offered a deal that would enable him to eclipse Roy Keane as the highest-paid player in Manchester United’s history and Ferguson, already unimpressed by the 26-year-old’s public dalliance with Chelsea, is becoming concerned.
‘“Rio should be getting his contract signed now,” Ferguson said in an interview with United’s in-house television station. “He has had the offer for over a week and there is nothing really to discuss other than Rio making a decision over whether he wants to stay or not.”
‘Although he had previously hinted at disappointment with Ferdinand over his well- publicised meeting with Peter Kenyon, the Chelsea chief executive, the latest comments represent a further strain on Ferguson’s patience with the centre half. He had previously urged him to sign the contract in order to “take away any lingering suspicions and doubts” about his meeting with Kenyon, but now he has taken the issue farther by saying that the decision hinges on “whether he wants to stay or not”.
‘Since the last round of negotiations with Pini Zahavi, Ferdinand’s agent, on April 15, United’s stance, echoed by Ferguson, has been that an agreement is “very close”, but Zahavi has maintained otherwise. While the present offer is potentially worth upwards of £100,000 a week to Ferdinand, Zahavi has indicated that his client may see out the remaining two years of his existing deal and leave on a free transfer in June 2007, a suggestion that has sparked serious concern among United’s plc board.’
Guardian:
‘Sir Alex Ferguson is becoming increasingly irritated by his England defender Rio Ferdinand's failure to finalise a new Manchester United contract and eradicate any "lingering suspicions and doubts" following his dinner dates with Chelsea's chief executive Peter Kenyon.
‘Ferdinand and his agent Pini Zahavi have not revealed their intentions to United since meeting the club's chief executive David Gill and solicitor Maurice Watkins 11 days ago. Ferguson believed a decision would be taken within five days.
‘"Rio should be getting his contract signed now," said an exasperated Ferguson. "He has had the offer for over a week and there is nothing more to discuss other than Rio making the decision about whether he wants to stay or not."
‘Ferguson is acutely aware that Ferdinand's popularity has plummeted among United's supporters as a result.
‘Ferdinand has two years of his £70,000-a-week contract to run and is believed to want a 70% rise that would make him the highest-paid player in the Premiership, as well as in United's history, with a salary approaching £6m.’