Leeds United would stand to pick up almost six times the amount had they sold Rio Ferdinand this summer. That’s according to the former Whites defender himself, who believes he would be able to command a fee of around £170million had he been a player in today's market.
Ferdinand spent just short of two seasons with Leeds after joining from West Ham United in November 2000. He was already an England international but during his spell at Elland Road, he managed to firmly establish himself as one of the best defenders the English game had to offer.
As such, Manchester United were willing to part with a record-breaking £30m to secure his services and add him to their backline in July 2002. It was a fee that made Ferdinand the most expensive English footballer ever at the time and the world’s most expensive defender.
