Chief executive David Gill has again dispelled rumours that Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand could be heading for Chelsea this summer.
Gill is sure Ferdinand will bounce back fresher, fitter and perhaps even a better player when his drugs-test ban ends - and he is confident it will be in a Manchester United shirt.
The England defender will step back for United when his eight-month suspension ends in September.
Gill told MUTV: " Rio has done a lot of good community work and I have had numerous letters as to his approach in those areas and he is doing a fantastic job.
" When he comes back it will be like signing a new Rio Ferdinand again in September and I am sure that once again he will prove he is one of the best defenders in world football and we will be delighted to have him back.
" It happened but we have got to get on. He has served his punishment but it is a bit like a sabbatical. I am sure he has been playing football week in week out since he was 10 years old, but he has had a break now and hopefully it will mean his career will last for another year, we´ll have to see.
Speaking about the ban, Gill said: " If we are honest with ourselves it was a big disappointment but I think there were mistakes on all sides.
" It would be wrong to put the blame in one particular camp and I think the club has recognised that. Now we have got to move on.
" We have played a part in the FA revision of their procedures, we have changed out own internal procedures to make sure that something like this doesn´t happen again, and it won´t happen again, but it was clearly a major loss without a shadow of doubt.
" Greater football brains than me, like the manager, have recognised that but we have got to move on. Let´s learn from it," he added.