JAVIER HERNANDEZ has agreed a new five-year contract that moves him into Manchester United’s higher bracket of earners and continues the club’s policy of ensuring all their more valuable players are confirmed as long-term assets.
Hernandez’s agreement follows the announcement on Monday that Tom Cleverley had signed a new four-year deal, meaning United have tied 13 players to contract extensions in the past year.
Daniel Welbeck, who has two years to run on his current deal, has also been offered new terms, though Dimitar Berbatov’s position continues to look vulnerable.
United have not officially announced Hernandez’s new contract but the club have been keen to finalise terms since the summer, rewarding the Mexican for scoring 20 goals in his first season since signing from Chivas de Guadalajara.
“We have renegotiated Javier’s contract and he is now committed for five years with Manchester United,” the player’s agent, Eduardo Hernandez, said.
“The initial contract was good for Manchester and for Javier because it enabled them both to see if they could fit together. Both sides have met their expectations and United were happy to reward Javier after his very good performances last season.”
Hernandez has been linked with Real Madrid but his representative said there had been no contact from the Spaniards. “It was never likely that Javier would leave. Talks began some time ago and United came up with a very good offer and I have nothing but praise for the way they have recognised Javier’s performances.
“I will not talk about numbers, but it is a five-year contract. It is a fixed salary with incentives based on the team’s success in each of the different tournaments.”
As well as Hernandez and Cleverley, United have agreed new deals with Rooney, Rafael, Ryan Giggs, Anderson, Antonio Valencia, Chris Smalling, Park Ji-sung, Michael Owen, Patrice Evra, Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher in the past year.
Berbatov’s position is more complicated, with the Bulgarian out of contract at the end of the season. United have a “one-way option” to extend that by another year and the club’s chief executive, David Gill, said in the summer that the plan was to keep the player even though he has become increasingly marginalised under Alex Ferguson.
The United manager may be able to call on Cleverley and Nemanja Vidic for Saturday’s clash against Liverpool at Anfield. Vidic made his return from a calf injury in Serbia’s 1-0 defeat away to Slovenia, a game in which he missed a penalty.
The result ended their hopes of a play-off slot, with Estonia going into this morning’s draw. Inter Milan midfielder Dejan Stankovic announced his retirement from international football after the game, while Vidic also hinted he was considering the same option.
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