Rio Ferdinand has admitted he could ultimately become a high-profile casualty of Sir Alex Ferguson’s latest Manchester United overhaul.
There is the sense of a new era at United this summer, with Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes having retired, and Wes Brown and John O’Shea joining Sunderland.
Ferguson has brought in defender Phil Jones from Blackburn for £16million, while fellow centre-back Chris Smalling has just penned a new five-year deal at Old Trafford.
Ferdinand, 32, has been a hostage to injury for the past two seasons, playing just 32 of United’s 76 Premier League games, a back problem and other fitness issues restricting his involvement.
At United’s introductory press conference for their three-week pre-season tour of the US, Ferguson joked his older players were starting to “die on their feet”, a playful jibe at the expense of Ferdinand, who was sitting alongside him.
The pair dissolved into laughter but Ferdinand was honest enough to admit United’s sustained success was the most important factor - even if that means established players like himself paying the price.
“New players are just what the club needs,” said Ferdinand.
“As the boss has said before, three of the most experienced players at the club have retired this summer.
“So the manager has reinforced in certain positions. This is a club that always evolves.
“Since I’ve been here the team has evolved and I’ve been part of that. That’s what you aim to do as a player.
“It’s not about you as an individual or your personal feelings, it’s all about the club becoming better, more stable and continuing the success we’ve had over the years.
The boss has been at the forefront of it all and long may that continue.
“It’s great to see young players coming through, from the reserves and the youth ranks.
“And it’s great when the boss brings in players like Phil Jones, Ashley Young and David De Gea, who we hope can continue the longevity and the success that we’ve had.”
While Ferdinand and United skipper Nemanja Vidic will remain Ferguson’s first-choice central defensive partnership this season, there is a definite feeling of a changing of the guard at Old Trafford.
Jones and Smalling, central defensive partners for England Under-21s, are the natural successors to Ferdinand and Vidic, their presence and hunger enough to keep their superiors on their toes.
Ferguson has built four great United teams during his illustrious United dynasty and has laid the foundations for his final side before his impending retirement in the coming years.
“We always try to look ahead and we’ve an influx of young players coming in to replace the older ones who are starting to die on their feet,” joked Fergie.
“It’s obvious the last three years we were well aware of the need to replace Ryan Giggs. Fortunately he’s managed to carry on and still perform the way he does, but Neville and Scholes both retired, as did van der Sar.
“We were well aware we were going to have to replace them at some point, so the work over the last two or three years has been all about that, but we have to make sure we still have the quality in the squad for success.
“The big problem is how do you replace someone like Scholes? If you were to bracket the best four midfielders in the world, he would be up there with Xavi and [Andres] Iniesta, then take your pick from somebody else.
“He’s certainly, to my mind, one of top four in the world, so it’s a loss and in terms of how we overcome it, the next few weeks might help us in that respect.
“Someone, as is often the case at Manchester United, might emerge from the youth team or one of the young players emerges and we carry on.
“It’s impossible to get another Scholes, but if we can get another player on similar lines in terms of quality of passing and vision then yeh we would have to do something.”
That player would appear to be Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder, Ferguson having apparently conceded defeat in his pursuit of Arsenal’s Samir Nasri.
Senior United figures have denied a bid has been made for Sneijder, and the Holland international’s wage demands of £200,000-a-week could scupper any potential deal.
United chief executive David Gill has remained in Manchester to try to make progress on the club’s purchase of a midfielder, and is due to join the squad in the US on Friday.
Tonight Ferguson’s side play the first game of their pre-season tour in Boston, against New England Revolution, managed by former Liverpool player Steve Nicol.
