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Rio Ferdinand responds to Wayne Rooney ‘arrogant’ comments
Published 19:06 28 Mar 2022 BST
Homesport
'He's referring to when on the pitch we would argue'
Rio Ferdinand has responded to comments by former Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney, who described the United legend as 'arrogant'. Rooney, who was speaking at an exclusive black-tie dinner event in Manchester on Saturday night, revealed what he thought about several of his ex-teammates, including Ferdinand, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez. Speaking about Ferdinand, Rooney claimed that the former centre-back sometimes 'forgot' he was a defender and that he was 'arrogant'.
Rooney claimed Ferdinand was 'arrogant'
"Rio [Ferdinand] is a top player, but he is just arrogant," said the Derby County manager.
"You get paid a lot of money at Man United to kick the ball into the net, so just do it.
"I said: 'Do your job, and give me the ball, give Ronaldo the ball. Stop standing there messing about.' Rio is a top lad but he sometimes did forget he was a defender."
Ferdinand responds to Rooney's comments about him
However, Ferdinand, speaking on his Vibe with Five podcast, has since responded to Rooney's comments, revealing that the pair 'always argued' when they were teammates. He said: "It (Rooney's comments) was at a signing, some of us do these things where you go and talk to an audience. They're quite funny, you have a few beers and you get loose lips a little bit when you're in there."Your guards down when you don't see the big cameras and microphones.
"He said a few things about a few former players, he said about me being arrogant and how we argued and he told tell me 'do your job' etc.
"He's referring to when on the pitch we would argue, either in front of everyone at Old Trafford or in the training ground - me and him always argued."
Asked to give an example, he added: "I'd be thinking 'just shoot man'. Don't be doing all these fancy passes, let Scholesy [Paul Scholes] and them do that.
"I want you to be up there, cutting edge and bang - be decisive. Wazza could score two goals in a game but not be involved in the game and he would come off with the hump.
"Because he's a street footballer, he wants to be involved in the 90 minutes playing all the time and I used to say 'Bruv I just want goals - I don't care what else you do'.
"If the ball came up and he weren't holding it up I'd be screaming 'Wazza hurry up'.
"He would go, expletive, 'you do your own job' and we'd be back and forth constant but we drove each other."
Ferdinand and Rooney were teammates at Old Trafford for several years, playing with each other between 2004 and 2014. During their time at United, they won five Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy.
Rooney takes aim at Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez
Rooney also made comments about Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez during the event, suggesting that Ronaldo is 'f****** annoying'.About the Portuguese star, he said: "Cristiano was so good and so f*****g annoying at the same time.
'He is probably not as good now but he is probably just as annoying."
Speaking about Tevez, he added: "For two years I loved playing with him. I used to pick him up from his house for Champions League games and drive him to the airport. We’d play the game and come back.
"And, honestly, I spoke to him for 30 minutes, and I had no idea what is coming out of his mouth.
"He is just mumbling. I am not a great speaker and I am thinking, 'F*****g hell. He is mumbling and nothing, nothing'."
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