Manchester: Manchester United manager David Moyes has revealed that the departure of captain Nemanja Vidic at the end of the season was a mutual decision.
The Serbian defender will be out of contract at the end of June and will walk away from the club after eight years at Old Trafford.
Vidic, who made his United debut shortly after he joined from Spartak Moscow in 2006, has already confirmed he will not move to another Premier League club.
And Moyes admitted that the decision to allow the 32-year-old to leave the club was in the interest of both parties.
"It was something that we all mutually agreed together," Moyes said. "Nemanja and I think it was the right decision for club and player.
"He has been a brilliant servant for Manchester United and he is captain, it will remain that way until the end of the season and he has been a great player for us and we will continue using him.
"This is a decision which has been mutually decided together. He felt it was the right time for him so we will get on with it and we will move on."
Vidic skippered United to their 20th top-flight title last season - his fifth and the last under former manager Alex Ferguson.
He also helped United clinch the Champions League in 2008, secured by a penalty shoot-out victory over Chelsea in Moscow, as well as three League Cups.
And Moyes also admitted that he does not have any concerns about playing Vidic in United`s remaining games this season even though he will leave at the end of the campaign.
"Will there be any trust issues in the remaining games with Nemanja? Not with somebody like him, with the type of man he is and the leader he is," Moyes explained.
"He has been a great leader for the club, he has served the club brilliantly well and I would expect that to continue right until the end of the season."
Moyes acknowledged that United`s hopes of retaining their Premier League title are heavily dependent on their rivals dropping points.
The Red Devils are 15 points behind leaders Arsenal ahead of Sunday`s clash with Fulham at Old Trafford.
"What we`ll do is keep trying to win the next game," Moyes added. "If we can do that we`ll see where we go. We need teams to slip up if we are to have any chance."
United are set to be boosted by the return of defender Phil Jones for the visit of the Cottagers on Sunday after he recovered from concussion.
However, centre-back Jonny Evans (calf) will miss out while midfielder Marouane Fellaini has picked up a groin injury having only recently returned from a broken wrist and is doubtful.
"Jonny Evans isn`t available but there`s a good chance Phil Jones will make it," Moyes said. "He`s had a chance to train and we`ll see how he is.
"Marouane picked up a groin injury in training the other day so he is possibly out for another week. His wrist injury is much improved, but he just felt his groin after one of the days so we`ll keep any eye on him."
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.