‘Baffles me’: Rio Ferdinand slates Leeds fans when it comes to £30m transfer deal

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Rio Ferdinand has been speaking about why he left Leeds United for Manchester United and believes the fans don’t quite understand the situation.

Ferdinand move to Old Trafford for around £30m in the 2000s and was seen as one of Alex Ferguson’s best signings.

The England defender would win the Champions League with United and multiple league titles, and is considered by many in Manchester as one of the club’s greats. Leeds fans, on the other hand, have never been able to look past him moving to the Red Devils, given the rivaly.

However, Ferdinand believes certain aspects of the deal are overlooked and believes Leeds fans need to realise that.

“Recently I went to a game with the Leeds fans where they were the away fans and they were bang on me, like aggressive. And I was like this is 20 odd years ago. And for one, by the way, if you look at the detail, I only left because I had to leave – and it was Man United,” Ferdinand said on BT Sport.

“I know it’s a rivalry, but I want to go and win. But listen, I’ve also brought in £30m to your club and helped you from going extinct you know. So, that baffles me. But once I knew United were in for me, it was a no-brainer, I had to go.”

Ferdinand explains in the clip how it was the club who pushed the sale as well, with the defender insisting it was him or ten other players to be sold.

TBR’s View: Leeds Fans Will Never Get Over It

Sometimes in football, fans just won’t ever back down over something and this seems to be one of those.

Ferdinand was great in his short time at Leeds and then got better at Man United as well. However, it’s clear that it stings the Whites faithful.

Rio’s comments here are interesting though and it does shed more light on things. However, Leeds fans probably won’t take a bit of notice, and Ferdinand can expect more stick when he comes across that away end again.