Fans and pundits criticise Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand for his astonishing defence of Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley

Fans and pundits criticise Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand for his astonishing defence of Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley
Rio Ferdinand has been criticised for comments he made in which he defended Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley.Speaking ahead of the Magpies’ clashwith Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on BT Sport, the former Manchester United and England defender said he understood Ashley’s dealings in the transfer windows as he attempts to sell the club.2

Ferdinand defended Mike Ashley

Thebillionaire retail entrepreneur sells Ferdinand’s own clothing brand FIVE exclusively at his retail branch Sports Direct, but the 40-year-old says opinions have nothing to do with business.“I dont even really know him well,” Ferdinand said. “I will get to know him.“My issue has got nothing to do with my business dealings Ive got with his company. When he went down he spent 50million of his own money to get them back up.“I understand Rafas frustrations because as a manager you want the ability to go out and spend money, but theyre not in that position. “At the same time I understand Mike Ashley.“Why is he going to spend more and more money – millions and millions of pounds – when hes actually looking to sell the club? Hes got them to a point now where theyre back in the Premier League and theyre consolidating to a certain extent.“Hes not going to go spend his own money. You wouldnt go spend your own money now knowing you were trying to sell something unless you knew you were going to get that back.”Ferdinand then added that Newcastlesupporters should start to have more realistic expectations about their club.Its not easy to sell a football club,” he continued.“Hes got a price and hes going to wait to get it. Hes spent money at that football club, hes just not going to spend it at this time.2

Newcastle fans want Ashley to sell the club

“All these fans, they do dream, and they dream big and I understand that.“What are Newcastles aims? They cant be aiming at being a Manchester United or a Manchester City. Theyve got to aim to be a Bournemouth.“Theyve only just started spending. Im not saying everything theyre doing is correct.“What Im saying is, I think Mike Ashley, you cant hammer him and say that he should be spending when he wants to sell the club. You wouldnt spend on your house when you want to sell it.”His comments prompted an angry reaction on social media, with pundits and fans calling Ferdinand out.

ICYMI: The quite ridiculous claims of @rioferdy5.Including getting #nufc spend wrong, claiming #nufc are a yo yo club (they are thanks to Ashley) and just getting everything wrong basically.https://t.co/IRym0SObmT— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) January 12, 2019

 

Rio Ferdinand. His utter contempt for Newcastle fans is quite astonishing. Aligned with Mike Ashley with his business deals mean us #NUFC fans now need to worship. @btsport – whatever youre paying him, its too much.— Glen (@GlenLegend) January 13, 2019

Utterly embarrassing from Ferdinand. Either incredibly ignorant or wilfully disingenuous pic.twitter.com/MTdV0AGtoP— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) January 12, 2019

Rio Ferdinand saying that Mike Ashley spent 50m of his own money to get Newcastle United promoted and he should be thanked. That's categorically not true. The money spent was generated by the club.— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) January 12, 2019

Rio Ferdinand has annoyed a lot of Newcastle fans tonight and rightly so too, talk about kissing mike Ashleys backside cause hes got his fashion range in his shops. Disgrace!!— Pete Norman (@PeteNorman2612) January 12, 2019

Doubling down on incorrect comments made due to a joint business interest instead of accepting the truth of what MA legacy has caused the loyal support of Newcastle is what you'd expect from an egotistical clueless clown like Ferdinand— John McIntosh (@JohnMcIntosh19) January 13, 2019

 

Rio Ferdinand either being a lazy pundit or ignoring the reality for his own purposes. https://t.co/7Z3Rp5UhmA— Jay McKenna (@JayMcKenna87) January 12, 2019

This is so ignorant it's incredible. Ferdinand has always portrayed himself as the 'banterous' man of the people. Well he has destroyed that perception in just a matter on minutespic.twitter.com/8knZkIYGSw— Gully Burrows (@gullyburrows93) January 12, 2019

Ferdinand reacted to the criticism he received on Sunday morning, sending out a Tweet directed at the St James’ Park faithful.

@NUFC fans good morning to you all!! Ya clubs turning a profit, no debt, oh & playing in the PL! Terrible!— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) January 13, 2019

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