Tweet
I'd pay to watch Ravel train and Fergie said he was the best he'd ever seen! Rio reveals just how highly thought of ex-United starlet was at Old Trafford
By Craig Hope
PUBLISHED: 04:34 EST, 15 November 2013 | UPDATED: 05:45 EST, 15 November 2013 7 shares
19
View
comments
Rio Ferdinand says he would pay money to watch Ravel Morrison train – and has revealed Sir Alex Ferguson thought he was the best 14-year-old he had ever seen.
Morrison, though, no longer resides at Old Trafford, the former Manchester United boss having lost patience with a catalogue of off-the-field misdemeanours.
He was sold to West Ham in January of last year but has only begun to shine on the Premier League stage this season.
Scroll down for videos of Morrison in training
Praise: Rio Ferdinand says Ravel Morrison, pictured during England Under-21s' win over Finland, was one of the best young players he had ever seen at Manchester United
New role: Ferdinand joined former England team-mate David James as he made his debut on BT Sport
The 20-year-old was part of the England Under-21 side which enjoyed a 3-0 victory over Finland on Thursday night, a match during which Ferdinand made his debut as a pundit with BT Sport.
And, when pressed on the talent and potential of his former team-mate, Ferdinand returned a fascinating insight.
‘I would pay to watch him train let alone play in a match,’ said the 35-year-old who first made his name at Upton Park.
‘Ever since the first day I saw him, my old boss (Sir Alex Ferguson) said ‘have a look at this boy’. He was taking the mick out of everyone on the pitch when he was about 14.
‘The manager thought he was the best player he had seen at that age.
Brilliant Ravel Morrison chipped goal
Talent: Ferdinand says Morrison could embarrass opponents when he was a teenager at Old Trafford
‘He trained with the first team at about 16 and Darren Fletcher said to me ‘he runs with the ball, he just runs with it and he’s almost looking at me while he’s running with the ball, and waiting for me to make a move and then he reacts’.
‘The top players can do that, they react to a defender’s movements.’
Ferdinand, however, believes it is premature to talk of elevation to the England senior side and says Morrison is doing a fine job of rebuilding his reputation with the Hammers.
Ravel, Zaha and Ings goals in super slow-mo for England U21s
Hammer time: Morrison is making a name for himself at West Ham this season
‘Let him enjoy it for now,’ he went on, ‘Don’t give him that extra pressure of playing for the senior side.
‘He’s doing a fantastic job of trying to grow and mature into a top-level player.
‘It’s been well documented his issues off the pitch. But he has improved dramatically over the past year.
‘He’s showing the brilliance which you knew he had. He can play one-touch stuff as good as anyone I have seen. He can terrorise defenders.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz2kiWUftSW
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
By Craig Hope
PUBLISHED: 04:34 EST, 15 November 2013 | UPDATED: 05:45 EST, 15 November 2013 7 shares
19
View
comments
Rio Ferdinand says he would pay money to watch Ravel Morrison train – and has revealed Sir Alex Ferguson thought he was the best 14-year-old he had ever seen.
Morrison, though, no longer resides at Old Trafford, the former Manchester United boss having lost patience with a catalogue of off-the-field misdemeanours.
He was sold to West Ham in January of last year but has only begun to shine on the Premier League stage this season.
Scroll down for videos of Morrison in training
Praise: Rio Ferdinand says Ravel Morrison, pictured during England Under-21s' win over Finland, was one of the best young players he had ever seen at Manchester United New role: Ferdinand joined former England team-mate David James as he made his debut on BT SportThe 20-year-old was part of the England Under-21 side which enjoyed a 3-0 victory over Finland on Thursday night, a match during which Ferdinand made his debut as a pundit with BT Sport.
And, when pressed on the talent and potential of his former team-mate, Ferdinand returned a fascinating insight.
‘I would pay to watch him train let alone play in a match,’ said the 35-year-old who first made his name at Upton Park.
‘Ever since the first day I saw him, my old boss (Sir Alex Ferguson) said ‘have a look at this boy’. He was taking the mick out of everyone on the pitch when he was about 14.
‘The manager thought he was the best player he had seen at that age.
Brilliant Ravel Morrison chipped goal
Talent: Ferdinand says Morrison could embarrass opponents when he was a teenager at Old Trafford‘He trained with the first team at about 16 and Darren Fletcher said to me ‘he runs with the ball, he just runs with it and he’s almost looking at me while he’s running with the ball, and waiting for me to make a move and then he reacts’.
‘The top players can do that, they react to a defender’s movements.’
Ferdinand, however, believes it is premature to talk of elevation to the England senior side and says Morrison is doing a fine job of rebuilding his reputation with the Hammers.
Ravel, Zaha and Ings goals in super slow-mo for England U21s
Hammer time: Morrison is making a name for himself at West Ham this season‘Let him enjoy it for now,’ he went on, ‘Don’t give him that extra pressure of playing for the senior side.
‘He’s doing a fantastic job of trying to grow and mature into a top-level player.
‘It’s been well documented his issues off the pitch. But he has improved dramatically over the past year.
‘He’s showing the brilliance which you knew he had. He can play one-touch stuff as good as anyone I have seen. He can terrorise defenders.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz2kiWUftSW
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Comment