Michael Carrick can look back over his impressive medal haul with a great sense of pride when he eventually hangs up his boots on illustrious career which has seen him win every trophy domestically and a Champions League and World Club Cup to boot. So far no new deal has been offered to United’s number 16 but with Jose Mourinho waging war on three fronts and fixtures coming thick and fast, no doubt it will be sorted sooner rather than later.
Michael Carrick: “There’s nothing to report. I don’t think it’s the right time to make an announcement…(a move to the Far East) It is one of those questions that is popping up in everyone’s minds at the moment, but who knows? It’s a tough question. It depends what the options are and what’s right for the family and kids.”
Carrick signed for United in the summer of 2006 from Spurs for a fee in the region of £18m. Since then he’s been a stalwart in a team which was considered Manchester United’s most successful, in terms or winning trophies and reaching Champions League finals.
Michael Carrick has been awarded a 2017 testimonial by Manchester United to mark his 11 years with the club. All what will be raised after expenses will be distributed to his chosen charities through the newly-created Michael Carrick Foundation; The testimonial will be a match between a Manchester United 2008 XI and Michael Carrick All-Stars to be played at Old Trafford on Sunday 4 June 2017. The confirmed list of players for the United team includes Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, while the All-Stars line-up will feature Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Michael Owen.
Michael Carrick: “The incredible support I’ve received over the years is something I’m very grateful for and I could never thank you, the fans, enough. As much as the occasion is about football, I also see this as a chance to give something back. All the proceeds from the game are going to charity. I hope to raise as much money as possible for my Foundation to help make a difference to children’s lives.”
Manchester United Chairman Ed Woodward: “Michael is a great example of a Manchester United player. He plays the game with elegant flair, making his job look effortless. He is 100% a team player and someone for the younger players to look up to. From the start at United, he showed courage to take the squad number of the great Roy Keane and he has continued to grow in responsibility and influence. For someone who has won everything in the game, his commitment, effort and work rate are great examples to young players. The testimonial is a fitting tribute to a real gentleman of the game.”
Getting the 2008 Premier League and Champions League team together is going to be no mean feat. With only Wayne Rooney and Carrick himself the only survivors still at the club, Carrick will face a tough task piecing back the Double winning team of that season.
On asking Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo: “I had contact with Carlos before he went to China and he said he would have loved to played but didn’t know where he would be playing so he didn’t know. That’s part of the reason I can’t confirm it’s the whole team because some of the lads are doing different things. From 2008, for everyone, there’s loads gone on but whatever has gone on, you can’t take that away, that feeling we had and what we achieved together. It would be great to get every single player together. I’ve spoken to Ronaldo but it’s the Champions League Final the day before. Who knows. There’s a reason I can’t say 100 per cent who everyone is going to be there. But most of them will be there.”
If you are a United fan, and to be fair even if you are not, then why not snap up a ticket and go and see some real talent on show. Michael Carrick deserves every plaudit that comes his way.