Rio Ferdinand is a name Leeds United fans will not like to hear after what happened during his time at the club.
The former England international started his career at West Ham and spent over eight years with the Hammers, coming through their academy. Ferdinand joined Leeds United in 2000, for a British transfer record of a reported £18million. At that time the defender was one of the best in the country.
Ferdinand eventually became club captain at Leeds United, but after failure to qualify for Europe’s elite cup competitions, rumours grew around Elland Road that he would leave the club. The defender admitted that he forced the club chairman to accept a world record bid from Manchester United.
In 2002, Rio Ferdinand joined the Red Devils on a five year deal. Since then, relations between the retired player and Leeds United fans has been less than cordial.
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Rio Ferdinand makes Leeds United transfer admission
Credit: Imago Images
Leeds United and Manchester United are bitter football rivals, and have been for most of English football history. The former Premier League player has been disliked by multiple generations of Leeds fans after he left the club many years ago.
Now, Rio Ferdinand has admitted that he did not know how heated the rivalry was between the two sides when he was involved with the transfer:
“A lot of Leeds fans, because I obviously went to [Manchester] United, hate me and that’s fair enough,” he said on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast.
“It’s because of the rivalry, which I didn’t actually understand at the time being a Londoner – but I do now.
“Leeds fans will always say to me ‘Leeds, Leeds, Leeds’, and I’m like that was the most enjoyable part of my career.”
Ferdinand went on to have a hugely successful career with Manchester United as he lifted the Premier League and won the Champions League multiple times.
Fans will always remember Ferdinand transfer
Despite having retired and now being in punditry, Leeds fans have not forgotten what he did. To leave the club high and dry after forcing a move was bad enough, but him being very successful during his time at Old Trafford is what angers fans at Elland Road.
Recently, there was backlash when Archie Gray was linked with a move to Manchester United. The youngster eventually joined Spurs in the Premier League. But his time at the club has not been the best so far, and he has been linked with a loan move to Elland Road in January.
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