Manchester United Should Resist Bringing Nemanja Vidic Back to Old Trafford

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Nemanja Vidic nearly missed out on the move to Manchester United that would see him become one of European football’s most respected defenders.

In 2006, and already coveted since his time with Red Star Belgrade, the then-Spartak Moscow centre-back seemed destined for Fiorentina until a hold-up at the Serie A outfit (they didn’t have an available EU spot) allowed United to swoop in.

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They spent £7 million on him, and the transaction would go down as one of former manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s finest pieces of business.

In eight-and-a-half years at the club, Vidic won five Premier League titles, three league cups, the Champions League and the Club World Cup. Alongside Rio Ferdinand, he formed one half of a formidable defensive pairing, and just last week Edwin van der Sar, who backstopped United between 2005 and 2011, picked both players in his best-ever XI.

“I think we formed the backbone to a very successful Manchester United team,” the now-retired goalkeeper told Sky Sports.

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Last spring, his contract having expired, Vidic joined Inter Milan on a free transfer. United had just finished a disappointing seventh in the English top flight, and as he told MUTV in July, as per the Daily Mail, he fancied the rebuilding project at San Siro.

“Inter will get bigger and bigger,” he remarked, “and I hope I can help them achieve their aims.”

Needless to say, he won’t have anticipated the Nerazzurri’s disastrous start to the season, never mind the dismissal of manager Walter Mazzarri and the reappointment of Roberto Mancini.

Since the latter’s Inter return in mid-November, Vidic, who has a history of knee and leg muscle problems, has either struggled for fitness or been an unused substitute. He hasn’t played in Serie A since a 2-2 draw at home to Hellas Verona on November 9 and, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, as relayed by Eurosport, will consider his options in January.

Tuttomercatoweb has even reported a return to Manchester United could be in the cards, according to Football Italia.

It’s a reunion the club would do well to resist, however enticing the idea might be. Which is to say, quite.

With Phil Jones still at least 10 days off from making his United return (injury data courtesy Physioroom.com) and Chris Smalling having picked up a groin injury on Monday against Southampton, the Red Devils could do with one or two additional defenders.

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Paddy McNair’s nervy showing at St. Mary’s will have only added to manager Louis van Gaal’s concerns, and while Jonny Evans is back after missing 10 games with an ankle problem, it’s more than likely United will look to strengthen the position next month.

Vidic, however, is not the cure for what ails them.

Although the 33-year-old possesses no shortage of experience, he simply can’t be counted on to come up with meaningful performances in high-pressure situations—the sort United will be facing week in, week out as they look to get back into the Champions League.

Besides, Vidic cut his ties to Old Trafford upon joining Inter Milan. And if he can’t displace either Andrea Ranocchia or Juan Jesus in Mancini’s system, he certainly can’t serve United’s ambitions.

Yes, Van Gaal will have to address his defensive corps in either the upcoming transfer period or the one after that; and yes, Vidic is a legend—and a recent one—at the club.

But his time at the highest level of the game is well and truly past, and United’s best course of action involves looking to the future.

They must not allow sentiment to get in the way of practicality.