Manchester United Captain ‘is like Lionel Messi for Barcelona’

The agent of Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic has ruled out the prospect of the Serbian leaving Old Trafford, by claiming the towering centre-half is as important to the Red Devils as Lionel Messi is to Barcelona.

The Manchester United stalwart will not play again this season after he sustained a serious knee injury during the club's disastrous defeat to FC Basel in the Champions League.

His absence has already been keenly felt by Manchester United as they bid to defend their Premier League title. Back-to-back defeats to Blackburn and Newcastle have heightened reports of their imminent demise and Vidic's injury has certainly undermined their efforts to maintain the pace on leaders Manchester City.

The Manchester United captain is contracted to the Red Devils until 2014 but regardless of his current hiatus and with concerns remaining over his long term fitness prospects, Vidic's agent, Silvano Martina, claims he is as committed to the clubs as ever.

"Vidic for Manchester United is like Messi for Barcelona. How could you take him?" Silvano Martina told calciomercato.it.

"He's the Manchester United captain and a key player for Sir Alex Ferguson. A move next summer is absolutely not an option.

"The player is only thinking of recovering as soon as possible from his ugly knee injury."

In other news, Manchester United legend Eric Cantona, who is widely deemed Sir Alex Ferguson's greatest signing, is reportedly set to enter the race for April's French presidential election.

The Manchester United icon must obtain 500 signatures from local mayors from around France in order to get his name on the ballot. Since leaving Old Trafford in 1997, the charismatic ex-striker has embarked on a successful movie career.