Major League Soccer team Chicago Fire are very keen on signing Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, according to The Daily Mail.
Chicago Fire are in the market for a high-profile player in order to compete with the current big hitters of the MLS, LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls.
LA Galaxy’s signing of David Beckham in 2007 and New York Red Bulls’ signing of Thierry Henry in 2010, enhanced their reputations not only in America but worldwide and Chicago Fire are aiming to compete on the same level as their rivals and they have made Ferdinand their main target.
Rio Ferdinand has been plagued by injuries over the last three years and he has only managed six appearances this season. There is no doubt that at 32, 33 next month, his time at the top level is slowly grinding to a halt, therefore a move to the States may be an interesting option for ageing defender.
With his contract at Manchester United due to expire in the summer of 2013, it is now time for Manchester United and Rio Ferdinand to decide what the future holds for him.
Manchester United are already planning for life after Ferdinand by signing young defenders Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, and not only are they threatening Ferdinand’s place in the United team, they are also competing for places in the England squad, having both broke into the senior set-up this season.
This week Fabio Cappello left the former West Ham and Leeds defender out of the England squad for their final qualifier against Montenegro because he was unsure about the defender’s fitness and this may put a question mark on whether Ferdinand will be fit enough to make England’s Euro 2012 squad in the summer.
Apparently, Ferdinand is aware of interest from the United States and he hasn’t ruled out a move there at some stage in his career. So how soon could Rio Ferdinand be joining David Beckham and Thierry Henry in ending his illustrious playing career in the USA?
Twitter: @TariqSaleh21
