Report: Vidic certain to leave

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic is almost certain to leave in the summer of 2010, according to a report in The Times today. The Serbian defender, who cost Untied £7 million from Spartak Moscow three years ago, will move to Real Madrid for £20 million, according to the report. The Serbian’s contract ends in 2012.

“Nemanja Vidic’s days at Manchester United look increasingly numbered, with Real Madrid confident of signing the Serbia defender in the summer,” the report claims.

“Having lured Cristiano Ronaldo from Old Trafford in a world-record £80 million deal in June, Real are planning another raid on the Barclays Premier League champions after identifying Vidic as their first-choice defensive target. Real will face competition from Barcelona and AC Milan, but expect to see off both as they prepare to embark on another frenzied shopping spree after their £220 million outlay last summer.”

Rumours about Vidic’s long-term commitment to the club have surfaced for more than a year, with the defender’s wife apparently unhappy in Manchester. It is a rumour often denied by the former-Spartak player but a new contract that would increase the defender’s wages to more than £100,000 per week is as yet unsigned.

United has already been linked with Bolton Wanderer’s Gary Cahill, Everton’s Jack Rodwell, Simon Kjaer of Palermo and Porto’s Bruno Alves as a replacement.