“He gets overlooked” - Ferdinand says he would’ve loved to play with ex-Manchester United star who had fallen out with Sir Alex Ferguson

Rio Ferdinand has named which former Manchester United star he would've loved to play with. The Englishman confessed that he would've loved to form a centre-back pairing with ex-Dutch powerhouse Jaap Stam.

Rio Ferdinand had the privilege to play alongside several top-rated defenders during his 14-year spell at Manchester United. However, as he revealed on his official YouTube channel FIVE, the former Red Devils captain would've been more fulfilled if Jaap Stam was one of them.

“A centre-back partner I wish to have played with and would really complement me as a player is Jaap Stam," said the Englishman. "Our partnership would have been [great]. I’ve played with Sol Campbell, he was brilliant. He was aggressive, strong, quick. But Jaap had everything."

“He gets overlooked when we talk about the best centre-backs in Premier League history. One-vs-one duels, whether in the air or on the ground. He was intimidating, massive. I was in the tunnel once as a young kid and I looked up and I thought, ‘I’m meant to be like that?’" Ferdinand added.

Ferdinand further praised the Dutch icon, whom he believes had everything as a defender.

“I was way off it when it comes to stature and presence," the Manchester United icon continued. "He had everything, he could play, come out with the ball. He was a solid, hard defender. So he would be the one."

Jaap Stam left Manchester United in August 2021 after falling out with Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly because of his controversial autobiography 'Head To Head' which didn't go down well with the manager at the time.

Ironically, Ferdinand only joined the Red Devils just one year after Stam's departure and as a result, they couldn't play together at Old Trafford.

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Rio Ferdinand and Jaap Stam's numbers in Manchester United's shirt

Jaap Stam spent just three years at Manchester United after arriving from PSV Eindhoven in a deal worth €17 million in July 1998. He made 127 appearances with the club, contributing one goal and three assists, as well as claiming six trophies before leaving for AC Milan in 2001.

Rio Ferdinand, on the other hand, joined the Red Devils from Leeds United in July 2002. He went on to enjoy a successful spell at the club, where he established himself as a legend and irked his name in the history books.

During his 12-year stint at Old Trafford, the Englishman played a whopping 455 games across all fronts, contributing eight goals and as many assists. He also won several honors, including one Champions League crown, six Premier League titles, three League Cups, and four Community Shields before leaving for QPR in 2014.