Rio Ferdinand left Leeds United fans furious in 2002 when he joined their arch-rivals Manchester United but their anger remains a mystery to him.
The former England centre-back spent two years at Elland Road after completing a British record £18million move from West Ham in 2000, making him the most expensive defender in the world. However, Ferdinand was breaking the same record again when he moved to Old Trafford on July 22, 2002.
Having qualified for the UEFA Cup in his two seasons with Leeds, Sir Alex Ferguson came knocking when the Yorkshire side’s finances collapsed, forcing David O’Leary to cash in on his captain.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
Ferdinand played 455 games across 12 years at United, winning six Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2008 as he cemented himself as one of the greatest defenders in top-flight history.
The ex-England captain became the first player to move from Elland Road to Old Trafford in 10 years, following Eric Cantona’s catalytic switch in 1992. Alan Smith then followed suit in 2004.
Given the historic rivalry between the two clubs, known as the Roses Derby. It was largely fuelled by hostile matches in the 1960s and hooliganism in the 1970s, but the intense feud is still propped up by Leeds’ bitterness.
Previously speaking on the podcast of the late and inspirational ex-rugby league star and motor neurone disease campaigner Rob Burrow, Ferdinand bizarrely claimed he was “taken aback” by the abuse that he still gets from Leeds fans over two decades on from the transfer.
Ferdinand said: “About six months to a year ago I did a game and the Leeds away fans were just in front of me. I swear to you I was taken aback by how upset and angry they still are with me.
“This transfer was over 20 years ago and I’m thinking ‘are you still upset about this?'”
He explained: “Unfortunately the club was run a particular way that they had to sell all of the assets. They had to sell me. I had to go. So it didn’t matter where I was going.
“I wasn’t a local Leeds lad so I didn’t really understand the rivalry. I chose to go to the best club which had the best opportunity for me to win and that was Manchester United, and that decision proved to be right because I was very successful there and won so many things,” Ferdinand added.
“I understand the rivalry, but sometimes you’ve got to understand the situation and the context.”
It’s been over two decades since a Leeds player was signed by United, but in an indirect transfer, goalkeeper Karl Darlow signed for United as a free agent, just weeks after leaving Leeds at the end of his contract.
It’s unlikely that the 35-year-old backup keeper will face the same sort of abuse as Ferdinand has received.