Two Man Utd legends storm out of 2008 WhatsApp group 'something said they don't like'

Rio Ferdinand has revealed that a couple of his fellow Manchester United legends abruptly stormed out of their WhatsApp group. The former England defender was part of the side that won almost everything under Sir Alex Ferguson. He made over 450 appearances for the Red Devils during a 12-year spell at Old Trafford, chipping in with eight goals and eight assists.

Ferdinand left the club in 2014 but has stayed in touch with many of his former team-mates. He is the admin of a WhatsApp group featuring several iconic players from the latter stages of Ferguson's tenure. However, it has not always been plain sailing with Ferdinand revealing that some members have cut themselves off from the group.

Speaking to The National, he said: "It's more the 2008 era, than some of the younger ones. Edwin [Van der Sar] recently joined it. Nemanja [Vidic] was in it and he walked out because there was too much going on. Just deleted himself.

"Patrice [Evra] comes in and out because someone says something Patrice doesn't like, he just deletes himself and then asks me to come back in because I'm the admin.

"Wazza, the Da Silva twins, Anderson, Ashley Young, [Danny] Welbeck, Tom Cleverley, Fletch [Darren Fletcher], Sheasy [John O'Shea], [Michael] Carrick, Quinny [Quinton Fortune], everyone, all the lads in it. From that era really."

Ferdinand, who recently left his punditry role at TNT Sports, is joining the likes of Evra in relocating to the United Arab Emirates. He feels the move will benefit his family and children, as well as freeing him from the shackles of the annual fixture list.

"I thought about moving, then we went back again in February for a little look at the schools just in case and it just pricked my mind to think about it," he explained.

"That was almost like a big kicker for me because the education system felt different, felt better for my kids. The children who are coming are 14, which is perfect because it's their two years of GCSEs starting this August.

"Then we've got a four and a two-year-old, so it's perfect timing for them as well. And the curriculum is English curriculum, but it's just done a different way. I feel the teachers in the UK feel a little bit like undervalued, underpaid.

"In Dubai, it feels like they're valued and the lifestyle means that they're happy and vibrant with a good energy for the kids. Lifestyle, safety, weather and just a new life.

"I wanted a new chapter and I've been doing TNT since I retired for the last 10 or 11 years. When I made the decision, I thought: 'This must be 30 years when my life is driven by the fixture list'. Not now.

"I'm not leaving football, but it's just not the governing body of my life now. I've got to be honest, it feels nice."

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