Serbian international Nemanja Vidic can finally see the funny side of his tortuous start to life at Manchester United.

The defender was signed from Spartak Moscow in January 2006 and made his debut in the same Manchester derby that fellow Old Trafford stalwart Patrice Evra made his bow.

Given United were hammered 4-1 and neither man impressed - Evra was hauled off at half-time - it is little wonder the pair feared their Old Trafford careers would be brief.

But two and a half years and 100 games on, Vidic and Evra have proved themselves to be two of the most accomplished players in the English Premier League.

Both collected a second league championship last term and were also integral figures in the side that won the Champions League.

"We speak about it quite often," said Vidic.

"Neither of us started well and we used to say we wanted to leave.

"We can laugh about it now because we have both reached 100 games.

"I am really pleased. I have worked hard to achieve that and I would like to play many more games for United."