Rio Ferdinand reflects on police advice after 'lighting bonfire' by leaving Leeds United for Manchester United

Centre-back Ferdinand joined Leeds for a British record fee of £18m from West Ham United in November 2000 but the defender then signed for Manchester United for a new British record fee of £30m in July 2002.

Ferdinand played the full 90 minutes of two 1-1 draws for Leeds against the Red Devils - at Old Trafford and Elland Road - but the former defender says the extremity of the rivalry between the two clubs only became fully clear after completing his move across the Pennines.

Speaking to Radio 5 Live's 606 Savage Social hosted by Robbie Savage on Tuesday, Ferdinand was asked how he handled the emotions of a tricky transfer between the Whites and the Red Devils and said: "I didn't see it like that.

"I didn't understand or know the extent of the rivalry between the two clubs until I signed.

"Until I signed for Man United, I didn't realise at all.

"My whole mindset was strictly 'I want to play for Man United because that's the place where I believe I have got a chance of winning trophies.'

"Then I signed and it was like lighting a bonfire really, it just went off. It was crazy.

"The police in Yorkshire rang me and just said 'don't come back for a while' and stuff like that because it was crazy.

"I didn't realise it was such a heated rivalry if I'm honest.

Ferdinand - who quickly became skipper at Leeds - was also asked which United players he had learned the most from during his short time at Elland Road with Ferdinand left taken aback by the way Lucas Radebe handed over the captaincy to him.

“I think the humbleness of someone like Lucas Radebe was really important,” said the 41-year-old former England captain.

“I came in and within three months I was given the armband that he had held and done ever so well with before.

“The way it was handed over to me was a bit embarrassing for me and I thought maybe a bit soon.

“The manager saw it was the right decision and the way he (Radebe) just took it - There was a calmness and respectfulness and just the humble way that this guy was; always with a smile.

"That's something I did take away from him definitely, especially becoming a captain.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. These are challenging times but the team at the Yorkshire Evening Post need your support more than ever in the weeks ahead.

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you - wherever possible and providing it is safe for you to do so - to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Inevitably falling advertising revenues will start to have an impact on local newspapers and the way we continue to work during this period of uncertainty.

So the support of our readers has never been more important as we try to make sure that we keep you connected with the city you live in during this time.

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. We need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Our team of trusted reporters are working incredibly hard behind the scenes - from kitchen tables and spare bedrooms - to look at how we can do this and your continued support to the YEP will help to protect its viability in the days and weeks ahead.

For more details on our subscription offers please visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk/YEP, email [email protected] or call us on 0330 4033004

Thank you

Laura Collins

Editor

READ MORE: https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/opinion/were-therewithyou-now-your-yep-needs-your-support-too-laura-collins-yep-editor-2521777