Nemanja Vidic exit could be on par with Jaap Stam departure, claims Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand

The Serb will join Internazionale in the summer

Rio Ferdinand has warned Manchester United that they might regret allowing the departure of Nemanja Vidic just as much as they did Jaap Stam's sudden exit.

Vidic, 32, will play his last match for United on Sunday before leaving to play for Internazionale. Ferdinand, who is also out of contract this summer, partnered Vidic to five Premier League titles, three League Cups and one Champions League, and wondered whether the club might have tried harder to keep their departing captain.

"Only time will tell if Man United regret allowing him to leave," Ferdinand, 35, said at the BBC's World Cup launch. "Obviously Jaap Stam played on for quite a few years at a good level after he left United and the same thing could happen with Nemanja. He's a great player and it's a shame he had to leave."

Stam played five seasons in Italy after he left Old Trafford and Sir Alex Ferguson recently admitted it was a "bad decision" to sell him.

United could lose both of their most experienced centre-backs this summer if Ferdinand leaves as well, and he admitted he is still in the dark about his future at Old Trafford. He has made over 450 appearances for the club he joined in 2002, but started just 11 Premier League matches this term.

"The club at the moment is in a position where they can't really make any decisions about anything," he said. "For me to be saying I want to do this or that is irrelevant.

"We've got to see who becomes the new manager and boxes will be ticked from there."

Jaap Stam at Manchester United (GETTY IMAGES)

Ferdinand is keen to continue playing, but does not know yet where that will be. "I've spoken to a lot of mates of mine in the game and they all say the same thing – keep playing for as long as you can. I just want the best solution for the club. Whatever it is then I'll respect it. After that I'm open to offers. I'd rather wait and see what happens at United and then there'll be a decision."