Aston Villa and England striker Ollie Watkins has now revealed that one of Rio Ferdinand’s former Manchester United teammates caught his eye for all the right reasons.
Ollie Watkins has been linked with Manchester United in the past and the 30-year-old England international remains a key player for Unai Emery at Villa Park.
The Aston Villa forward netted 21 times and registered five assists in 55 matches across all competitions for Unai Emery’s men in the 2025-26 campaign.
Watkins’ solid season was more than enough to earn the Villa star a place in England’s 26-man squad for the World Cup in North America this summer.
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Ollie Watkins tells Rio Ferdinand why he admires Man Utd legend Ruud van Nistelrooy so much
Manchester United-linked Ollie Watkins is under contract at Villa Park until 2028, despite attracting interest from the likes of Arsenal during last season.
Watkins sat down with pundit Rio Ferdinand on the United legend’s podcast and the talented Three Lions international opened up about his playing career.
The former Brentford attacker showed an admiration for Ruud van Nistelrooy and explained what he learned from the legendary ex-Man Utd striker from “old clips.”
“I’ve watched old clips of when [Ruud van Nistelrooy] used to play for United and stuff and Van Nistelrooy, whenever the ball is going wide, the ball is always getting crossed,” he said on Rio Ferdinand Presents.
“Whereas now, we’re told to if it’s not on, then come back and make passes and stuff like that.
“So there can be opportunities where times in a half where I may not get a shot, which, for a striker, you’re thinking you should be at least having three or four shots a game.
“But if you’re playing against a low block team, then it is very difficult.”
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Ollie Watkins explains to Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand his approach as a striker on the pitch
Outside of his admiration for Ruud van Nistelrooy, Watkins broke down the importance of him becoming “involved” with different parts of Villa’s dynamic.
“Yeah, I think so. And sometimes we start games now and I need to, I need to like, I feel like I need to be involved,” Watkins continued.
“So, when the game is like very slow and stuff like that, I don’t feel like it helps me because you’ve got to be very patient.
“I may end up coming out of my position and then the ball goes across the face of the box and I’m not there.
“But when teams are going man for man and I’m like fighting with the centre back and there’s space for me to run, I feel like that’s when I’m at my best.
“I don’t know, it’s like, so you couldn’t sit there and be like a [Erling] Haaland and you could just sit there and go, ‘I’m going to take two touches in the half and I’m going to wait and be patient.’ You have to go on and you get starved.”
England striker Watkins, who lifted the Europa League trophy with Villa last season, has been at Villa Park since 2020 after his exit from Brentford.
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