Man Utd legend Ryan Giggs reveals he nearly left club
Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs claims Rio Ferdinand was one of the worst players in training when he first joined the club. Ferdinand became the world's most expensive defender when he left Leeds for United in 2002 for £30million. He went on to become one of the club's greatest ever defenders, winning six Premier League titles and the Champions League, as well as 81 caps for England.
Man Utd news: Ryan Giggs says Rio Ferdinand was one of the worst trainers when he started (Image: BEIN SPORTS/GETTY)
"And all of a sudden you're under pressure before training has even started because that's part of the warmup.
"He didn't get the mick taken out of him at Leeds, at West Ham, if he was in the middle - at United it was constant, it was constant.
"If you're in the middle they're putting the big on you, just keep it on and instantly you're probably going home thinking 'What's just happened there? I used to enjoy training'.
"So you have to step up to that next level. I'm just giving you a little example."
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Giggs says it was similar for a lot of the club's big signings and said the transfer fee made no difference.
"There's no hiding place," the Wales boss added.
"He was £30m, the most costly defender in the world, it didn't matter.
"And of course, by the end of it, he was the best. He was the best in the box because he was so good with his feet, he was confident now. So there was a bit of sink or swim.
Man Utd news: Ryan Giggs says small-box games troubled Rio Ferdinand (Image: GETTY)
"When you have that sort of culture, even the players that it didn't come naturally to, they come with you.
"So then you have the manager, you have all the players in the dressing room, then you have the talented players who maybe if they went to another club would just be a nice player rather than being an effective player.
"So it's that added little per cent that you do need."