Sir Alex Ferguson has given Mikael Silvestre’s move from Manchester United to Arsenal his seal of approval.

Silvestre became the first player since Brian Kidd in 1974 to leave Old Trafford for the North London club when he completed a £750,000 move on Wednesday night.

Considering the fight that Ferguson put up to stop Gabriel Heinze leaving United to join Liverpool 12 months ago, it was a surprise that the United manager put up no resistence to Silvestre’s last-minute decision to hook up with Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager.

However, while accepting his stance on Heinze, Ferguson felt it would be unfair to stand in the way of Silvestre given the nine years' service he had proved.

“I am glad you said that,” Ferguson said when reminded of the Heinze situation. "I could have been selfish and put Mikael in the reserves but we are bigger than that.”

Silvestre knew he had no United future at the end of last season. At that point he asked Ferguson’s permission to leave and the United boss was happy to let the 31-year-old get on with it.

“Mikael said he wanted first-team football,” Ferguson said. “He had lost his position to Patrice Evra, so, after nine years’ service, there was no point holding the boy against his will.

“He is a really nice lad and a great professional, so I more or less let him conduct his own affairs. We knew the price we wanted and informed the teams who came in for him.

“He went up to Sunderland last Friday, and was very positive about that, then Manchester City came on to the scene. He was halfway through his medical when Arsenal came in. We have no complaints with the deal at all.”