When it comes to fan rivalries, Leeds United's and Manchester United is one of the fiercest in English football. Founded in the old Yorkshire vs Lancashire rivalry and intensified over the years in which the two teams contested the top of English football together, players moving from one side to the other has always brought up strong feelings from both fanbases.
This season, Leeds bought Daniel James from their old rivals. It must be admitted that fans of the Red Devils don't tend to look upon their players who make the move across the Pennines to Elland Road as traitors in the same way that Leeds fans do, due to the fact that the Whites fell away from being Manchester United's rivals as they were relegated from the Premier League. In fact, last season was the first league fixture between the two in 16 years. As such, the sentiment towards James making the move was largely Manchester United fans wishing him well.
That was not the case from Leeds fans when Alan Smith and Rio Ferdinand made the move from Leeds to Old Trafford in the early 2000s. Ferdinand left for a record transfer fee at the time, when Leeds had just missed out on making the Champions League final in the 2000/2001 season. Meanwhile Smith went there following Leeds' relegation from the Premier League in 2003/04.
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Both players became pillars of hatred amongst the Whites' fanbase. Smith had been a fan-favourite and was an academy product who had even gone on record saying that he would never play for Manchester United. Meanwhile, Ferdinand had been made club captain during his spell in Yorkshire.
Ian Harte was a teammate of the two in the side which made the Champions League semi-final. The Irishman has admitted that he 'never understood' the reaction towards the two making the move.
"I never really understood the hatred from some fans. Of course, you have Yorkshire and Lancashire, but Rio was only there for a season. Joined for £18million and then moved to Manchester United for £30m," Harte told Freebets.
"Smithy was there from the academy so that one was harder to take. He came through with us. But in football now there's no loyalty, they went on and won lots of trophies and medals and that's the nature of it now. It's a business at the end of the day so matter who you are, if the right offer comes in the club will sell you."
In the case of Smith, the story goes that Leeds were in such financial trouble that they were forced to accept the deal where the buying club offered the most money up front. This happened to be Manchester United and Smith ended up spending three years at Old Trafford, winning the Premier League in 2006/07.
Ferdinand went on to become a club legend at Leeds' great rivals. His partnership with Nemanja Vidic was the bedrock of the team for many years and he won 14 major honours, including the Champions League.
This season, rumours have swirled about Leeds' current hometown hero, Kalvin Phillips being a transfer target at Old Trafford. However, Phillips has maintained that he would like to sign a new contract and remain at Elland Road.
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