Rio Ferdinand shares insight from 2008 Man Utd WhatsApp group, including team-mates who remove themselves

Rio Ferdinand has shared details about a WhatsApp group consisting of his Manchester United team-mates from 2008.

Since Rio Ferdinand’s retirement in 2015, the former centre-back has remained vocal about Manchester United, especially as a podcaster and in his previous role as a pundit for TNT Sports.

Ferdinand announced towards the end of the season that he would be leaving TNT Sport, after spending more than a decade at the broadcaster, initially arriving under the BT Sport banner.

This decision was made to allow Ferdinand to focus on his various business interests, including his YouTube channel.

Ferdinand has since moved his family to Dubai, but he remains in regular contact with his former teammates at United, such as Anderson, Patrice Evra and Wayne Rooney.

Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images

Rio Ferdinand is admin of Man Utd group chat

When it comes to social media, Ferdinand is among the most active former United players.

The same applies to players like Gary Neville and Evra, who have both featured on several TV shows and podcasts since retiring from playing professional football.

In an interview with Andy Mitten for The National, Ferdinand revealed that he stays in touch with his former United teammates from the 2008 era, when United last won the Champions League.

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Ferdinand explains why Nemanja Vidic left the group chat and how Evra can get offended by messages from other players.

The WhatsApp group, which Ferdinand administers, also involves Ashley Young, Danny Welbeck, Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and more.

“We have a WhatsApp group. It’s more the 2008 era, than some of the younger ones. Edwin ([Van der Sar] recently joined it. Nemanja [Vidic] was in it and he walked out because there was too much going on. Just deleted himself. Patrice comes in and out because someone says something Patrice doesn’t like, he just deletes himself and then asks me to come back in because I’m the admin.

“Wazza, the De Silva twins, Anderson, Ashley Young, [Danny] Welbeck, Tom Cleverley, Fletch [Darren Fletcher], Sheasy [John O’Shea], [Michael] Carrick, Quinny, everyone, all the lads in it. From that era really.”

Ferdinand on dealing with criticism on social media

Footballers on social media get a lot of criticism.

There weren’t a lot of things for United fans to be positive about last season, which led to supporters sharing their frustrations online.

While that is part of football, some people cross a line when it comes to abuse, but Ferdinand claims his thick skin helps him get over it.

Ferdinand added that he has sympathy for the footballers in the modern game when it comes to social media.

“I’ve got thick skin; I couldn’t care less what someone says about me. It does wind me up sometimes, but then at the beginning I was a bit kind of volatile and I’d go back. I got fined quite a lot of money over the years when I was playing because of certain things I’d said and retaliated to certain people, but then you quickly learn, you mature.

“But I look at it for these players now. When you’re winning nothing affects you, you’ve got your wings on and you’re just rolling with the punches, it’s fine. The moment you start losing or your form drops, it creates an element of doubt. When there’s that creak, certain things that will get in, criticisms and noises will end up being there and when you’re trying to be your best and trying to play and you’re fighting for form, it’s hard to get them away.”

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