Vidic loving Manchester life, despite grim reports

MANCHESTER UNITED defender Nemanja Vidic insists he is enjoying his stay at Old Trafford and life in the north-west after reportedly slamming the city and the way of life there.

The Serbian had been quoted as being critical of Manchester as a city, the climate, and of the English culture which he reportedly claimed left no time for savouring “the joy of life”.

Vidic, who has established himself as a key member of Alex Ferguson’s side since arriving from Spartak Moscow in January 2006, was quoted as saying he does not have plans to stay long-term in England and would relish the chance to test himself in Spain.

“I will never stay to live in England, that’s for sure,” Vidic said. “You get only a brief glimpse of sunlight before it’s all cloudy again.

“The winters are mild, but in summer the temperatures seldom go higher than 20 degrees. And it rains, rains, rains.

“In future, I would like to test myself in another top league. I’m thinking Spain. At least there will be no reason to complain about the weather.

“In England, they say Manchester is the city of rain. Its main attraction is considered the timetable at the railway station, where trains leave for less rainy cities.”

The 26-year-old was also critical of the style of living in England. “It’s not only the weather I’m not happy about here,” he said. “In Russia and Serbia the people’s way of life is similar. In England it’s totally different. Here they just don’t have time to feel the joy of life.

“Throughout the week they all work so hard. They only talk to people at lunch break. Then in the evening they come home and watch telly, so they can get up early for work the next day.

“The only time to meet friends is at weekends, but for football players it’s the busiest time of all.

“It was much easier for me to adapt to Russia than England. In England I had no-one to talk to.

“The first month was especially hard. I lived alone in a hotel, which I left only for training. I thought I would go crazy inside those four walls.”

However Vidic yesterday claimed his comments, which originated in an interview with a Russian football magazine, have since been inaccurately reported.

Vidic said: “I’d like to clarify that I did not make these particular remarks. I spoke about the difficulty I had settling in to life in Manchester, but that does not reflect how I feel now.

“I enjoy my life very much as a footballer at Manchester United and I’m very happy to be a part of this great club. I think I show that in the way I play every week. I also have far too much respect for the people of Manchester, and England, to criticise them in this way.”