'Are you crazy?!' – Rio Ferdinand's reaction to audacious request from young fan

By Tom Hancock
last updated

The former Manchester United defender was on punditry duties for Liverpool's Premier League season opener at Fulham

Ex Manchester player Rio Ferdinand during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St. James Park on April 30, 2022 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England
(Image credit: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)

Rio Ferdinand had a simple response for a fan who cheekily asked him to sign a Liverpool (opens in new tab) shirt at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

The Manchester United (opens in new tab) legend was part of BT Sport's punditry team for the Liverpool season opener against Fulham (opens in new tab) – which finished 2-2 (opens in new tab) – and one young Reds supporter's request rather took him aback.

"He just asked me to sign a Liverpool shirt; are you crazy?!" quipped the former England defender. "I can't sign a Liverpool shirt, man ... I can't have that."

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Ferdinand spent 12 years at Old Trafford, winning six Premier League titles and the Champions League under Sir Alex Ferguson.

And he has previously spoken of his dislike for United's arch-rivals. In 2017, he said (opens in new tab):"I think there is a mutual respect between both football clubs but also a mutual sense of 'I respect what you've achieved and done, but I can't stand you'.

"I quickly immersed myself in that. As a football player, you become a fan of the team you play for."

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Tom Hancock

Tom Hancock started freelancing for FourFourTwo in April 2019 and has also written for The Analyst and When Saturday Comes, among others. He supports Wycombe Wanderers and has a soft spot for Wealdstone. A self-confessed statto, he has been known to watch football with a spreadsheet (or several) open...