Michael Carrick is in limbo regarding his Manchester United future and admits retirement is a near certainty if he is not offered a new deal for next season by José Mourinho.
The midfielder is out of contract at the end of this one and is yet to discuss his future with the manager. The former England man will be 36 in July but he is keen to continue playing for United.
He said: “I haven’t really had that much of a conversation with him [Mourinho]at the moment. Obviously that will happen, it’s going to happen at some stage, pretty soon I’d have thought. That’s something I’m really relaxed about. I’m sure he is as well. [Retirement]almost depends on how long I’m here. I don’t think there’s many places I’d want to play, if any, after this anyway.
“I probably would say yes – that would be it if I left in the summer. I couldn’t say definitely but pretty much. I’ve had such a time here, that I don’t think [I would go elsewhere]. I feel really good, to be honest. You’ve just got to judge how you go. It can change quite quickly. I feel fine. It’s a good place to be at the minute, there is real positivity around the place and hopefully [there are]things this season that we can achieve, and that keeps me going.”
Carrick, who has been awarded a testimonial for Sunday June 4th, when his All-Star team will meet a Manchester United 2008 side, believes he will realise when the time is correct to end his career. "You know in yourself," he said. "There's pride as well. Gary Neville [the former United captain] is probably the obvious one. He stopped halfway through the season. He said 'you know what, that's it, I can't do it now', which you have got to respect.
“That’s the pride element of knowing how good you are at your peak and as that steady decline comes it’s not letting it go too far. I don’t want to be hanging around too long just for the sake of it. I’d want to be going out when I still feel I’m contributing enough. It’s about getting the timing right. I was listening to Stevie Gerrard talk about it last year [his retirement], it’s about getting that fine balance of when it’s not too late and it’s not too early. There’s no right or wrong. It’s about how you feel personally. For me it’s a pride thing of knowing what you’ve achieved and the standards you’ve set that you don’t want to dropping right below them.”
