As if Manchester United-Leeds needed any more petrol poured onto the fire, Rio Ferdinand has taken to poking fun at Leeds United fans.
Ahead of Sunday's clash at Old Trafford, Ferdinand weighed in on a major cross-Pennine issue - his 2002 move from Leeds to Manchester.
Ferdinand moved to Manchester after a successful World Cup in Japan and South Korea. The £30m fee a British trasnfer record at the time.
Ferdinand is one of the very few players to break that record twice, after his move from West Ham to Leeds for £18m.
Rio Ferdinand
The rivalry between the two sides is one of the most bitter in English football, and Rio Ferdinand had a little dig at Leeds fans ahead of the match.
The cheek of it... “Rio Who” ya know! And I was your captain lil man 😂😂@LUFC ➡️ @ManUtd
British Transfer Record: £30mill 💰 #MUNLEE pic.twitter.com/bnO19U3ldR— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) December 20, 2020
Rio didn't leave it there - sure, why would you?
I had to win trophies mate - apologies!!
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) December 20, 2020
Reaction
Leeds United fans are not a group to take a little bit of needle lying down.
You made a choice based on your own needs - Leeds fans, because of the captaincy of Billy Bremner, were brought up with the mantra 'Side before Self' You chose Self before Side - that's why you're disliked at Leeds. Your choice.
— Martin Fisher (@FISH10012) December 20, 2020
Manchester United-Leeds United
United We Stand editor Andy Mitten joined Friday's OTB AM to talk Manchester United and to preview their upcoming game against Leeds United.
The match kicks off at 4:30 pm on Sunday and Off The Ball will have live commentary with Nathan Murphy and Vinny Perth.
It is the first Premier League meeting of the two fierce historical rivals since 2004 and Mitten explained that the rivalry is still "pretty vicious" even considering Leeds' long hiatus from the top division.
"For Man United fans in Manchester, I would say it goes Manchester City, Leeds and then Liverpool," Mitten explained as he ranked United's top rivalries.
"If you ask a Man United fan in Dublin, they will probably be more likely to say Liverpool and I still think Liverpool are United’s biggest rivals but mates of mine would disagree.
"For a long time, Leeds were up there but then they vanished in 2003, just two years after reaching the semi-final of the Champions League. They had a really good young side but that rivalry was absolutely vicious. Going to Elland Road as an away fan was frightening, it really was."
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