"Players want to play for Alex. They know they're going to achieve more success under him, and Rio certainly wanted to play for him.
"When a player looks at reasons for moving from one club to another, it's another tick in the box when Alex is the manager. Players don't want to give up the chance of working for him. Rio wanting to come here was a combination of becoming a Manchester United player and working for Alex."
"I gave Alex a call last Sunday as soon as the Ferdinand deal was agreed and he was delighted.
"His enthusiasm for the job is as great as ever and that was something we were aware of when he changed his mind last season about retiring and signed a new three-year contract.
"As a club we want continuity and we also want that in the team.”