"Rio Can Cope with Switch - O'Leary
Former Leeds manager David O’Leary believes no-one is better equipped to deal with a big-money move to Manchester United than Rio Ferdinand.
England and Leeds centre-back Ferdinand is expected to make the switch to Old Trafford, although Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale has put a deadline on the deal.
Manchester United have until noon tomorrow to meet Leeds’ valuation for the player – believed to be in the region of £35million.
O’Leary expects the British record transfer to go ahead, and in an open letter to his former captain in the Sunday People, told Ferdinand: “There is nobody more capable of dealing with the pressure of a £30million transfer to Old Trafford. Sir Alex Ferguson knows that.
“When you get there, you won’t need a settling in period. It’s not like when Jaap Stam came from Holland and needed months before looking the part.
“You’ll be ready straight away, and judging by the way United defended at times last season, they will need you at your best!”
O’Leary, who according to Ridsdale was sacked this summer because of Leeds’ failure to win a trophy or qualify for the Champions League, believes Ferdinand’s move will have a significant effect on the race for the Premiership in the coming season.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who led the London club to the Double last season, knows it too, according to O’Leary, who said: “Arsene Wenger has criticised Leeds for the sale after he managed to keep Patrick Vieira in similarly trying circumstances last summer.
“Wenger’s unhappy because this transfer will give us the prospect of a title race with less competition than the egg-and-spoon race at the local school!
“Those were also my sentiments – but I was sacked for expressing them.
“United have always scored goals, now they are going to be stopping them too.”
However, the former Arsenal defender has warned Ferdinand to be wary of a backlash from Leeds fans.
He added: “This was never going to be easy. When Leeds decided they would sell you, it would have been hard enough for the fans to accept that decision.
“They are disgusted at the prospect of you joining Manchester United, their fiercest rivals.
“When I came up from London, after 20 years, I had no idea the hatred could be so intense. I was shocked.
“It was worse than the rivalry between Spurs and Arsenal. It will die down, though.”
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Former Leeds manager David O’Leary believes no-one is better equipped to deal with a big-money move to Manchester United than Rio Ferdinand.
England and Leeds centre-back Ferdinand is expected to make the switch to Old Trafford, although Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale has put a deadline on the deal.
Manchester United have until noon tomorrow to meet Leeds’ valuation for the player – believed to be in the region of £35million.
O’Leary expects the British record transfer to go ahead, and in an open letter to his former captain in the Sunday People, told Ferdinand: “There is nobody more capable of dealing with the pressure of a £30million transfer to Old Trafford. Sir Alex Ferguson knows that.
“When you get there, you won’t need a settling in period. It’s not like when Jaap Stam came from Holland and needed months before looking the part.
“You’ll be ready straight away, and judging by the way United defended at times last season, they will need you at your best!”
O’Leary, who according to Ridsdale was sacked this summer because of Leeds’ failure to win a trophy or qualify for the Champions League, believes Ferdinand’s move will have a significant effect on the race for the Premiership in the coming season.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who led the London club to the Double last season, knows it too, according to O’Leary, who said: “Arsene Wenger has criticised Leeds for the sale after he managed to keep Patrick Vieira in similarly trying circumstances last summer.
“Wenger’s unhappy because this transfer will give us the prospect of a title race with less competition than the egg-and-spoon race at the local school!
“Those were also my sentiments – but I was sacked for expressing them.
“United have always scored goals, now they are going to be stopping them too.”
However, the former Arsenal defender has warned Ferdinand to be wary of a backlash from Leeds fans.
He added: “This was never going to be easy. When Leeds decided they would sell you, it would have been hard enough for the fans to accept that decision.
“They are disgusted at the prospect of you joining Manchester United, their fiercest rivals.
“When I came up from London, after 20 years, I had no idea the hatred could be so intense. I was shocked.
“It was worse than the rivalry between Spurs and Arsenal. It will die down, though.”
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