‘I used to be world-record switch – this is what it is wish to be most costly star’
Rio Ferdinand has opened about the pressures that come with being a world record signing.
The Manchester United legend, 45, became the planet’s most expensive defender when he moved from West Ham to Leeds for £18million in 2000. The deal broke the British transfer record, and two years later it happened again when United paid £30m to lure him to Old Trafford.
Speaking on his FIVE podcast, Ferdinand said that he felt the weight of expectation immediately and says it impacted his daily life. “The pressure that [beings a world record transfer] brings is immeasurable,” he admitted.
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“Anywhere you walk… subconsciously you feel that people are looking at you, thinking and talking about the price tag. Whether it’s going to the shops for a loaf of bread, filling your car up with petrol or walking down the road with your missus. Whatever it is, you just think all eyes are on you, and all they’re thinking about is the transfer fee and the expectation.”
But it wasn’t just on the streets that Ferdinand would feel the gnawing glare of expectant eyes. Rival fans, players and even his own colleagues began to assume and anticipate certain things when he was around.
“You walk out onto the training pitch – expectation, and you walk into the canteen at the training ground – expectation, away grounds – expectation, everyone’s expecting a big performance,” he said. “Everywhere you go people will expect world class, beyond-your-wildest dreams performances, it’s crazy.”
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(Image: Getty Images)
Moises Caicedo, who joined Chelsea from Brighton for £115m last summer, is the current British transfer record holder, having pipped team-mate Enzo Fernandez following his £106m move to Stamford Bridge from Benfica 17 months ago.
Prior to Caicedo’s move, Arsenal came tantalisingly close to breaking the record themselves when they paid £105m for Declan Rice. But while the Englishman narrowly escaped being tarred as the league’s most expensive player, Ferdinand says he’s been impressed with how well Rice has dealt with being a £100m+ footballer.
(Image: Getty Images)
(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
“It’s a huge amount of pressure to go with [being a record signing], and then to go and perform the way he has, and to go into Arsenal and, the way he plays like chest out, give me the ball, dominant figure,” he said.
“We talk about Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid buying into the fans and them buying into him, on a lesser scale maybe but they’ve bought into Declan. The fans love him immediately, the players have warmed to him as well. He’s integral.”
