Lots of players want out of Old Trafford, reveals Anderson

Anderson claims “lots” of Manchester United players, including Nani, “want out” of Old Trafford.

Anderson joined Fiorentina on loan until the end of the season earlier this month, and the midfielder has no intention of returning in the summer.

The Brazilian, appearing at a press conference in Florence, insisted he was “here to stay” and, if his words are to be believed, he is not the only player keen on leaving the Premier League champions.

Nani only signed a new five-year contract last summer but is among a host of players who want to jump ship, according to Anderson.

“I’m sure that lots of players want out, especially people like myself and Nani who have been in Manchester for seven or eight years,” he said. “Manchester United is a huge club, a club that does everything for its players, but sometimes a footballer wants to leave just to experience a different way to play football, to learn something as well.”

There is an inescapable feeling that United’s squad needs a huge revamp in the summer. Rio Ferdinand’s contract expires at the end of the season, and given his lack of playing time this term, it would appear unlikely he will renew his current deal.

Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic are coming towards the end of their contracts while question marks also hang over Nani and Javier Hernandez.

Six months after failing to land some of his main targets, manager David Moyes belatedly boosted his playing squad by signing Juan Mata for a club-record £37.1m last week. The Spaniard has enjoyed an encouraging start to life at Old Trafford, but he was unable to help the team avoid an eighth defeat of the season at Stoke on Saturday.

United were the victims of misfortune when Charlie Adam’s free-kick flew past David de Gea off the foot of Michael Carrick, but Mata knows time is running out for the Red Devils, who sit seven points off fourth place.

“We went back home [from Stoke] with no points, feeling that we just can’t lose this kind of game again,” Mata wrote on his personal blog. “I hope that piece of luck we are missing will come to our side, because we are struggling even with injuries.”