Former Leeds United defender Rio Ferdinand insists he was quite happy at Elland Road after the club reached the Champions League semi-final. The Whites were one of the brightest teams in the country at the time, but nobody could quite believe what was on the horizon.
Leeds were plunged into turmoil, selling a number of their best players in order to keep afloat, Ferdinand being one of them. Speaking to the Joe Cole Cast, Ferdinand said: "Not in that season, we didn't know but my agent at the time was a super agent and he was in the know. He knew people behind the scenes at all the clubs and knew what was going on.
"After the season finished he started talking to me and saying there was clubs interested but I was quite happy. He said the club wasn't in a good place and then when he said the club need to sell you, it's not like they want to sell you, they don't really want to sell you but if they don't sell you then they have to sell ten.
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"Recently I went to a game, an away game with the Leeds fans - who are the most punchy fans - they were bang on me, aggressive. I was like, it was 20 odd years ago, if you look at the detail, I only left because I had to leave - and it was Man United.
"I know it's a rivalry, but I want to go and win. Also, I brought £30million into your club and stopped you going extinct. That one baffled me but once I knew United were in for me and Sir Alex Ferguson - they're winning.
"You've got to remember I was 23 or 24-tears-old then and I hadn't won a thing. I'm thinking the clock is ticking.
"I go to Man United and I'm sitting in the dressing room, people have won five and six Premier League's and I was way off. It was a no brainer I had to go."
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