"Rat", "Shrek" - Cristiano Ronaldo and Rio Ferdinand recall nicknames they had for former Manchester United teammates
Cristiano Ronaldo and Rio Ferdinand were part of the Manchester United team that dominated both England and Europe, but they’ve also had their fair share of humorous moments. The Portuguese star recently joined Ferdinand on his podcast, where the two reminisced about the nicknames the United players had.
Ferdinand joined the Red Devils from Leeds United in 2002 for a then-British record fee of £30 million. Ronaldo, on the other hand, arrived a year later after impressing in a friendly for Sporting CP against Sir Alex Ferguson’s side. Together, the duo won numerous honors, including three Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy, before Ronaldo’s move to Real Madrid in 2009.
The duo played alongside numerous talented stars who contributed to United’s success under Ferguson. However, aside from all the success, the Manchester United squad was known for its playful side.
When Ferdinand asked Ronaldo if he remembered any nicknames, the Portuguese star was quick to recall Wayne Rooney’s, with Ferdinand first mentioning “Rat” before Ronaldo chimed in with “Shrek,” which led to both of them laughing. Ferdinand jokingly added that Rooney wouldn’t be too happy with that nickname.
The English defender also shared that he used to call Nani “Naanbread,” while Ronaldo mentioned that Paul Scholes was referred to as “Ginger.” Gary Neville, on the other hand, was just known as “Gaz” to Ronaldo, while Ferdinand noted that they also called him “Busy.”
The pair then talked about Irish defender John O’Shea, with Ferdinand mentioning how Ronaldo used to joke around with him. Ronaldo would often say “no bum” to O’Shea, which again sparked laughter between the two.
Although Ronaldo left United at the age of 24, he is widely regarded as a Manchester United legend due to his exceptional talent and individual brilliance. Across his two spells at the club, the 39-year-old made 346 appearances and scored 138 goals.
Cristiano Ronaldo shares his opinion on Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United
While Ronaldo’s first stint at Manchester United was a resounding success, his second spell did not go as well. Erik ten Hag did not favor the Portuguese star for the style of play he envisioned, and Ronaldo eventually moved to Al-Nassr after just a year and a half.
Since his departure, United have won two trophies, but their performances in the Premier League, particularly last season, were far from satisfactory. United finished eighth and were knocked out of the Champions League group stage, though Ten Hag was given some leeway due to winning the FA Cup.
United have also had a poor start to this season, suffering two defeats, including a humiliating 3-0 loss to Liverpool at Old Trafford. Ronaldo criticized Ten Hag, asserting that a club of Manchester United’s stature should not accept being considered a level below the top teams.
“Man United’s coach cannot say they can’t compete to win the Premier League and the Champions League every year. This is Man United! You have to be there, to mentally say… listen, maybe we don’t have that potential, but I cannot say that. We’re going to try. You have to try," he said (via TalkSport)
Manchester United will travel to face Southampton on Saturday, September 14, before hosting Barnsley at Old Trafford in the EFL Cup on September 17.