Sir Alex Ferguson has opened up about the shocking gesture that left him ‘gobsmacked’ after handing Ravel Morrison his debut for the club.
Morrison, who remains a free agent after bringing his short spell at Dutch Eredivisie club Den Haag to an end last month, was the latest guest on Ferdinand’s Vibe with Five podcast.
Ahead of interviewing the former United star, who failed to play a single Premier League game after bursting on to the scene, Ferdinand messaged two of Morrison’s former managers – including Ferguson.
Although the talented playmaker never played a top-flight game in his beloved red shirt, he did feature in three domestic cup matches under Ferguson.
Morrison was handed his debut against Aldershot in the League Cup, October 25 as an 18-year-old, although his career hasn’t followed the same path that many predicted for him.
However, the morning after playing alongside players like Nemanja Vidic, Berbatov and Michael Owen, his touching gesture proved to be a first, and last, for Sir Alex Ferguson.
While speaking on his podcast, Ferdinand said: “I text two managers when I knew you were coming on Ravel. I text the last manager you played for in the Premier League, which was Chris Wilder. I’ve told you what he said.
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“I also asked for five words from Fergie – Sir Alex Ferguson. “He text me back this: ‘Rio, my first and last impression of Ravel as a young lad was that he has always got time and space, always available to be on the ball, so unusual for a young lad of his age. Give my regards to him please.
“Another thing about Ravel which I’ve always treasured, because no other young player who made their debut did this. After the first game in the first team that he played, the next morning he came into my office and gave me a letter, thanking me for giving him his debut. I was gobsmacked Rio. The boy had a good heart, he was just beaten by his background’.”
It was a message that drew an emotional response from the panel, with Ferdinand saying he was close to tears, and Morrison was moved by it too.
He said: “When I made my debut, words can’t describe the feeling, making your debut for Man United. Hearing that touches you, do you know what I mean? If I could go back in time, I would change 90 per cent of my life.”
