Vidic Signs for United

First New Arrival
By Chris O'Brien
January 6 2006

Manchester United have completed the signing of Spartak Moscow defender Nemanja Vidic for a fee of £7million. The 24-year-old has built himself a great reputation across Europe having played a leading role in Serbia's "famous four" backline during the World Cup qualifiers.

Manchester United have completed their first January signing, with Nemanja Vidic agreeing personal terms and being granted a work permit to play in England. The tough tackling defender joins United for a fee of £7million from Spartak Moscow and could play some part in Sunday's F.A Cup trip to Burton.

Vidic looks set to add some Eastern European steel to a United backline that has looked frail at times. He made up part of Serbia's formidable "famous four" backline that kept an amazing nine clean sheets in ten qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup. He is also threatening going forward, having bagged numerous goals with his head for Red Star Belgrade and Spartak.

United fought off competition from AC Milan and rivals Liverpool to secure the hard-man's signature. His strength, grit and determination look set to be a real asset to the squad and Sir Alex Ferguson will be re-thinking his defensive line-up in a move that could break the central defensive partnership of Rio Ferdinand and Mikael Silvestre.

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