Ferdinand has captained United superbly this season
Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Rio Ferdinand is on the verge of signing a new contract with Manchester United.
The 29-year-old's representative, Pini Zahavi, had revealed the defender has agreed a new five-year deal, believed to be worth �130,000 a week.
And Ferguson said: "He is on the point of signing a new contract and we are happy with that.
"We always try to get players on longer contracts so we are not chasing things. Rio has been fantastic this season."
Signed from Leeds for a British record �30m in 2002, Ferdinand has become the key figure in United's defence and has formed an excellent partnership with Nemanja Vidic.
He has two years remaining on his current contract and talks over an extension were planned for the summer.
But those negotiations were brought forward and the player now needs only to sign the new agreement.
Zahavi believes it may not be his last contract at Old Trafford, and that Ferdinand may even go on to surpass the remarkable achievement of AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini, who is still playing at 39.
"I believe he can play longer than Maldini - and they believe so at Manchester United as well," Zahavi said.
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