Former Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand was a fierce competitor during his time as a professional footballer.
The Englishman was an aggressive defender who loved battle on the pitch. he hung up his boots in 2015 and has since moved into the punditry world.
The 43-year-old has a YouTube channel, named Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE, where he speaks on the footballing world and shares stories about his time as a professional footballer.
On the latest ‘Vibe With Five’, Ferdinand was speaking about the first game week of the new Premier League season. In the video, he said he wanted to see more ‘hate’ and more ‘aggression’ in the Premier League.
Ferdinand was then asked to name the five players he did not like on the football pitch. The United legend gave five players he ‘hated’.
Robbie Savage
Savage was the wind-up merchant on the pitch. He didbeverything in his power to try and end up on the winning side during a game. But Savage and Ferdinand have since become friends during their time as pundits.
Ferdinand said: “I hated Robbie Savage. I’m mates with him now, he’s a lovely guy!”
Kevin Davies
Davies was an extremely physical striker who loved battle.
He played a total of 15 years in the Premier League, representing Southampton, Blackburn and Bolton.
Mario Balotelli
Balotelli, who played in the Premier League for Manchester City and Liverpool, managed to get in Ferdinand’s bad books.
“I hated Balotelli, hated him,” Ferdinand said. “He did a couple of things I didn’t like with the fans and I thought he was rude. But I chat with him now, lovely geezer. It’s mad because I’d see him after and it would only be respectful. In the games, in the end I respected it, he was an animal on the pitch.
Luis Suarez
For Suarez, It’s pretty obvious why Ferdinand didn’t get on with him.
Fernando Torres
Ferdinand also ‘hated’ Torres and revealed a particular moment where the Spaniard stamped on him off the ball.
Ferdinand said: “Didn’t like Torres. He stamped on my foot one time when the ball was up the other end, stitches in my foot. I was playing, the ball was in the other end, we had some tussles – he was game – he just stamped on my foot, no ball about anywhere.
“Went in at half-time, took off my boot and it was the worst thing I could’ve done. My foot went ‘woof’ I need stitches. I had an injection, for ages it was killing me, got a scar on my foot.”
