Ferdinand urges Roy Keane to stay

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand celebrates with Roy Keane after scoring a goal against Leeds United in October 2003. Ferdinand has urged Roy Keane to go back on his decision to leave Manchester United at the end of the season.

England international defender Rio Ferdinand has urged his Manchester United team-mate Roy Keane to go back on his decision to leave the Premiership club at the end of the season.

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, who turns 35 this summer, 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 on Friday: "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."