Rio Ferdinand has said that people need to “understand sometimes” there is more than meets the eye regarding one Manchester United legend who is “different.”
The 46-year-old former Manchester United star has become a leading pundit in football after he called it time on his legendary playing career in 2015.
Rio Ferdinand enjoyed a prolific playing spell at Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson after he was signed by the Red Devils from Leeds United in 2002 for a £30m fee.
The footballer-turned-pundit, who broke the British record transfer fee twice in his career, became a linchpin defensive figure for ex-United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Ferdinand made 455 appearances for the Red Devils and the United legend shared an iconic defensive partnership with former teammate Nemanja Vidic.
During his time at Old Trafford, the former United defender lifted six Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy and two League Cups with the Red Devils.
Ferdinand spent the large majority of his United career under Ferguson, who bowed out of Old Trafford as Red Devils manager in 2013.
The former England international was part of Ferguson’s last United team to lift the Premier League title in the 2012-13 campaign.
Ferdinand talks up Man Utd legend
Rio Ferdinand briefly played under former Manchester United manager David Moyes before he left Old Trafford in 2014 and signed for Queens Park Rangers.
A complete Rolls-Royce defender in his prime, the ex-Three Lions international is widely regarded as one of the best Premier League defenders of all time.
Ferdinand shared the pitch with a roster of star-studded talent at United, including the likes of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes.
The United legend witnessed first-hand the meteoric rise of Cristiano Ronaldo during the 40-year-old Portuguese forward’s spell under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Ronaldo turned 40 years old on Wednesday and the United legend is still playing at both club level with Al Nassr and on the international stage with Portugal.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Ferdinand insisted that people paint a false perception of the Al Nassr superstar and they think Ronaldo is “selfish” when he is not.
“People need to understand sometimes – they look at him and think that he is the highest-paid, a good-looking guy – he is going to be selfish, etc,” he said.
“They are far from the truth.”
Ferdinand on the real Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the best Premier League players of all time after his sensational first spell at United.
The United and Real Madrid legend lifted three Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, an FA Cup and two League Cups with the Red Devils.
Ronaldo also lifted the first of his five Ballon d’Or awards at United before his blockbuster move to La Liga club Real Madrid in 2009.
Ferdinand claimed that the Al Nassr and Portugal captain is “made different” and he added that Ronaldo “doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone.”
“He is a man who wants to be remembered forever,” he continued.
“He has done nothing short of greatness. He has rejigged the record books in so many different categories within the game – physically, he has taken it to another planet, another stratosphere.
“What he is achieving, what he is doing, his age, his consistency over so many years. He doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone.
“He has got more money than God. He has won more trophies than most. He has the most goals.
“He still wants to get up and see himself looking for that extra one per cent to be the best. He is just different. He is made different.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
