Rio Ferdinand names his 'worst teammate' at Manchester United
Ex-Man United defender Rio Ferdinand has named the player who was the 'worst teammate' in his 12 years at the club.
Rio Ferdinand is one of Manchester United's greatest ever defenders and was part of one of the most successful eras in the club's history.
The former defender won six Premier League titles, a Champions League title, two League Cups and the Club World Cup during his 12 years at the club.
Ferdinand has made a career for himself post-football, venturing into punditry and spending more time creating content for his YouTube channel.
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The 45-year-old was recently on the BBC podcast, hosted by Rugby League legend Rob Burrow who asks guests seven questions using an eyeball machine, as he lives with motor neurone disease.
When asked who his worst teammate was at United, Ferdinand said: "The worst teammate I probably had the most arguments with Wayne Rooney to be honest with you. Never came to blows, it was on the pitch,"
"We never argued in training really, it was just match day, we probably argued once every two or three games, effing and blinding, screaming at each other because I wanted more from him.
He continued: "I knew what he was good at and I knew he could do more. I'd want him to be more effective or something.
"The biggest thing for me with Wayne is he wanted to play 30 or 40 yard passes like Paul Scholes, and he could do it, he was that good. I wanted him to score 30 or 40 goals a season, because he could.
Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney were two of United's key figures during one of the club's most decorated periods, also being teammates in the England setup.
Talking about Rooney's hunger to be involved, Ferdinand continued: "We played one season and he scored 30-something goals and he wasn't happy because he wasn't getting involved in the game and dictating it, he was having to play high and I couldn't get my head around it. That's the top striker, I want you to be that because I know you can be that."
"But he loved football that much he wanted to play football like he was playing in the park, and we used to argue, I'd tell him to shoot and he'd scream back at me. But they were good arguments."
The fire and aggression described between the two might be exactly what the lacklustre United squad of today lacks.
Topics: Rio Ferdinand, Manchester United, Wayne Rooney
Joshua Nair