Rio Ferdinand names the two Man Utd players he spotted doing extra training during his secret visit to Carrington

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Former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand made a secret return to Carrington last week to visit his old team.

It was an interestingly-timed visit too. Rio Ferdinand visited Carrington just hours after his video with Cristiano Ronaldo was released, in which the iconic former star took a little dig at manager Erik ten Hag.

Speaking to Rio Ferdinand Presents, the club legend admitted the timing did put him a little on edge.

Ferdinand said that once he walked through the doors at Carrington, he quickly became aware the club had ‘bigger fish to fry’ and Ronaldo’s words were treated as ‘just another comment’ from a former player.

• READ MORE: Who is Rio Ferdinand? Age, Height, Wife, Children, Net Worth

Ferdinand impressed by Man Utd stars

Ferdinand explained how during his ‘walk and talk’ with Erik ten Hag, he was impressed to see two players doing extra work on the training pitch.

He named Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes as the duo, and said he was particularly glad to see the smiles on their faces.

Ferdinand explained: “He was absolutely fine [Ten Hag]. I liked what I saw when I went in the other day, the environment felt as clean and as pure as I’ve seen it for a while, smiles.

“I was walking and talking to Erik ten Hag, and two players was on the pitch doing extras, cracking up laughing, having a competition, joking. Bruno and Marcus Rashford. it warmed my heart. 

“We’ve talked so much about Rashford ‘he don’t look happy’, and I’ve said it myself, we need to see a smile.”

Ferdinand added that he even remarked on this to Erik ten Hag, commenting: “‘That ain’t the Marcus I see on the weekend’, and the manager says ‘This is the Marcus I see every day, that we see here, that we know.'”

• READ MORE: Who is Marcus Rashford? Inside the life of Man Utd’s book-writing, government-tackling ace

Rashford smiling on the pitch now too

Marcus Rashford was full of smiles at the weekend after netting his first Premier League goal of the season, in the win over Southampton.

Rashford’s precisely judged curler from the edge of the box took his all-time Manchester United career goal tally to 132, climbing above club legend Tommy Taylor.

During his career at the club, Rashford has demonstrated that he is a confidence player, who often goes on streaky goal sprees, and so there could be a good few weeks ahead.

Rashford struck 30 goals in all competitions in 2022/23, yet managed only eight in 2023/24, a dramatic drop-off.

Erik ten Hag has retained faith in him, and it is good to hear Rashford is putting in the extra work, which may finally be paying off.