Rio Ferdinand has opened up on a dig Roy Keane made about Leeds United during one of his first training sessions at Manchester United.
Leeds had made Ferdinand the world’s most expensive defender when signing him from West Ham in 2000 during a time in which they were one of English football’s biggest powerhouses.
In Ferdinand’s first season at the club, Leeds reached the Champions League semi-finals with the 45-year-old even having turned down a move to Chelsea in favour of Elland Road.
However, Ferdinand ultimately spent less than two years at Leeds as he became the world’s most expensive defender for a second time in 2002, making the switch to bitter rivals Manchester United.
Leeds were effectively forced into selling the former England international due to their spiralling financial issues off the pitch, and it was Man United he unfortunately joined.
What Keane said about Leeds United in Manchester United training back in 2002
Though Leeds were always up towards the top of the table competing, Man United were, at the time, very much in an era of dominance when Ferdinand joined.
They had just won seven of the last nine Premier League titles and were the side that everybody wanted to beat.
And on the latest episode of the ‘Stick to Football Podcast’, Ferdinand has revealed what Keane once had a go at him for in one of his first training sessions after leaving Leeds.
He claimed after playing a simple pass to Gary Neville, Keane ‘went mad’ and told him he was no longer at Leeds, and had to take more responsibility on the ball.
He said: “You need people to influence you. I always say this about Roy, I remember when I signed and you were the captain. I played a ball to Gary in training, like a simple five or 10 yarder, and you went mad.
“I’m sitting there going [what?]. And you went mad. ‘Take some responsibility, don’t just keep playing the simple pass. You’re not at Leeds and West Ham now.’ And he was right.”
Ferdinand says he stopped Leeds going ‘extinct’ by joining Man United
Ever since Ferdinand made the move to Old Trafford, there has been a great deal of animosity towards him from Leeds supporters.
Speaking around 12 months ago, Ferdinand claimed that while he knows there is a rivalry between the two clubs, he cannot understand the criticism he receives for making the move, given Leeds’ situation.
He said: “My agent was in the know, Pini Zahavi. After the season finished, he was saying clubs were interested. I said I’m happy at Leeds, but he said Leeds weren’t in a good place – they need to sell you. If they don’t sell you, you have to sell 10.
“Recently, I went to a game – Leeds fans were bang on me. If you look at the detail, I had to leave. Manchester United – I know there is a rivalry. But I brought £30m in to your club, I stopped you going extinct. That baffled me.”
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