A lot of West Ham fans are reacting to former manager Harry Redknapp’s comments about Rio Ferdinand’s career whilst playing at the Hammers.
Ferdinand progressed through the youth ranks with their academy, before making his full senior debut away to Derby in the league in February 1997 after a string of minor substitute appearances via Transfermarkt.
He then moved to Leeds United, and eventually to Manchester United in 2002. This £30 million move made him Britain’s most expensive signing at the time. (Talksport)
Many fans believed that Rio did not want to leave the Hammers, but Harry Redknapp spoke on the Sky Sports Transfer Talks podcast and said that he “begged him (Rio) not to go”. The manager’s career in East London came to an end quickly after Ferdinand left. Since Redknapp was sacked and to this day, the Irons have arguably struggled to produce such talent an array of talent (such as Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Michael Carrick) out of their academy, perhaps the most notable being club hero Mark Noble and current prospect Declan Rice.
Here is what fans have said on Redknapp’s comments:
https://twitter.com/westham_gossip/status/1238201029075898369?s=20
Breaking West Ham news :- Harry Redknapp tells lies
— officeboy (@Officeboy1969) March 12, 2020
Im sure I remember it was Rio begging to stay and redknapping wanting him out
I remember reading hammers news Rio did an interview after he left saying he sat in Harry’s room asking to stay but Harry said he couldn’t turn the money down
Couldn’t be more redknapp bs could it
— Lee (@LeePeryer) March 12, 2020
If Harry had spent the Rio money properly we’d have done better. Fraud.
— I am West Ham Van (@WesthamVan1) March 12, 2020
Says the Man who sold the heart of our defence and Bragged what good business getting 15 m.for Rio, course we all know what happened next, https://t.co/pGy1lndQYq
— Daniel Pinner (@dannyjoe49) March 13, 2020
As much as some of our fans disliked Harry, there is no denying he was right about the lads that left and I genuinely believed he wanted what was best for the club but once again poor greedy owners cared more about their pockets than the club and its fans. Seems to be a pattern https://t.co/4gebQakSKO
— Andy Gunning (@AndyGunning) March 12, 2020
I thought it was the other way round https://t.co/OqJ1FukFDz
— Elliott (@_Elliott__1) March 12, 2020
West Ham fans, do you think Rio wanted to leave? Comment below!
