Rio urges Keane to stay

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has called on Roy Keane to perform a dramatic U-turn and stay on at Old Trafford.

Keane has declared his intention to leave United at the end of the season and depart the Premiership altogether.

However, Ferdinand, who was also linked with a move away from the Red Devils this summer before signing a new contract, believes the inspirational midfielder is too valuable to let go.

“I will be gutted if Roy does go because I would far rather he stayed at Old Trafford,” Ferdinand told The Sun.

“I feel that the longer he stays at United the better it is for the club.

“He is a quality player, a great leader and the best captain I’ve ever had.

“He’s great around the place, someone to look up to and an inspiration to the youngsters coming through.

“He has done such a lot for the club that you cannot imagine him not being here.”

One man who feels Keane may indeed eventually decide to stay at Old Trafford is Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

While revealing that he expects to be moving on next summer, Keane did leave the door open for a change of heart if United want him to stay when saying: “If David Gill rings me tomorrow and offers me another year, then we’ll see!

“But I’m not putting a gun to anybody’s head and I’ve never gone looking for new contracts – I’ve always felt that’s up to the club.”

And Wenger feels that may have been a not-so-subtle message to the Old Trafford board.

The Frenchman said yesterday: “He has played almost his whole career at Manchester United and I’m not yet convinced that he will leave.

“He could also be saying ’come on Manchester United, if you want to keep me for another year then it’s time to wake up as I have some other offers on the table’.

“He could still end up staying at Manchester United.”