Rio Ferdinand reveals he tried to persuade Sir Alex Ferguson to sign Jermain Defoe for Man United

Rio Ferdinand has revealed he tried to persuade Sir Alex Ferguson to sign striker Jermaine Defoe for Manchester United.  

The former Tottenham and Sunderland striker Defoe, who recently announced his retirement, always seemed to get linked with a switch to Old Trafford but it just never materialised. 

Defoe even admitted that he would have loved to have played for United as he would have taken his game to another level.   

Rio Ferdinand has revealed he tried to persuade Sir Alex Ferguson to sign Jermaine Defoe

Defoe (pictured) even admitted that he would have loved to have played for Man United

‘I had quite a few conversations with Sir Alex Ferguson during our time at United and he used to go who is the hardest player to play against,’ Ferdinand revealed on his Vibe with Five Podcast.

‘I used to say to him a good few times, listen if I was having to buy one player to be part of our squad who could either or be on the bench, but have the same impact it would be Defoe.

‘He used to go, I can’t get him out there or I couldn’t get him out of there. The timings wasn’t there.’ 

Defoe was a huge success at Tottenham, West Ham, Portsmouth, Sunderland, Bournemouth and Rangers, but he has admitted a move to the Red Devils could have taken him to the next step.

The former Tottenham star feels a move to Old Trafford could have taken him to the next level

‘When people say do you regret anything, I say no, i’m just grateful for everything that i’ve done.

‘I have always said I would have loved to have played for United. To be in that sort of environment with those winners, i’ve always said that, and because of the way I am I would have gone to the next level.

‘I would have been leaving the training ground at 5pm, I would have done everything.’    

Ferdinand and Defore agreed that the striker could have played a similar role to the likes of Chicharito, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or even a Michael Owen or Ryan Giggs if he had ended up at Old Trafford. 

Ferdinand and Defore agreed that the striker could have played a similar role to the likes of Chicharito, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or even a Michael Owen  (left) or Ryan Giggs (right)

‘There is a lot of players that would sulk and you lose them, but there is certain players that watch the game, analyse it.

‘Michael Owen ended up doing it at United, he’d come on and impact the game, Ryan Giggs done it at the latter stages of his career.

‘They were so valuable, if you’re going to try win stuff.’