Manchester United have coaxed former captain Rio Ferdinand out of retirement in a desperate bid to solve their defensive injury crisis ahead of a daunting run of fixtures.
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The 42-year-old will go straight into the squad for Saturday’s Europa League qualification six-pointer clash with Leicester City.
‘Rio’s at the defensive wheel, man – I’m doing my thing. Rio Ferdinand is back’, the 6-time Premier League champion told Paddy Power News.
‘I’m looking forward to meeting all the lads I’ve habitually ridiculed on live TV for the past few years. That won’t be awkward, that won’t be awkward at all’, he winced.
With first-choice centre backs Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane currently sidelined, United looked set to pair Eric Bailly with Victor Lindelof for the upcoming games against Leicester, Atalanta and Liverpool.
However, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer under arguably the most pressure of his tenure as Manchester United boss, sources claim the Norwegian told pals: ‘F**k that’.
It’s understood the 48-year-old made tentative enquiries during the international break as to whether Ferdinand would be open to making a sensational return to Old Trafford.
When it became clear the legendary centre back was desperate to re-join the club, United sent their transfer delegation to his home to see if they typically make a balls of it.
Discussing Rio’s signing with Paddy Power News, Solskjaer told us:
‘Riosy fits within the club’s transfer strategy of resigning former players whose best years are firmly behind them’.
‘All the lads are looking forward to meeting him, particularly Jonesy, who’s been staying behind to do some extra pad work’.
Meanwhile, Solskjaer refused to confirm whether the club had made a move to reunite Ferdinand with his former defensive partner Nemanja Vidić.
Since retiring in 2016, the Serbian is rumoured to be a member of an underground nocturnal bare-knuckle boxing society which no one is allowed to talk about.
When pressed about Vidic, Solskjaer snapped:
‘I’m not allowed to talk about Fight Club. But I can talk about sh*te club. Next question about United please’.
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