Rio Ferdinand insists Nemanja Vidic NOT Virgil van Dijk is the greatest January transfer in Premier League history… as he explains why his former teammate should be ahead of the Dutchman
- Rio Ferdinand named Nemanja Vidic the Premier League’s best signing for January
- The pair enjoyed a successful partnership at the heart of Man United’s defence
- Sir Jim Ratcliffe should target Thomas Tuchel, he has unfinished business It all starts
Rio Ferdinand has insisted that Nemanja Vidic, not Virgil van Dijk, is the biggest January transfer window in Premier League history.
After three years at St Mary’s with Southampton, a £75 million deal was agreed for Van Dijk to join Liverpool in December 2017, with the defender arriving at Anfield the following month.
The Dutchman would quickly establish himself as an integral part of Jürgen Klopp’s side, playing a starring role in his first full season as Liverpool defeated Tottenham to clinch the Champions League.
For his efforts that season, the centre-back would be named both the PFA Players’ Player and UEFA’s Men’s Player of the Year awards, becoming the first player from an English club to be named the latter in its current incarnation.
However, despite his accolades, Ferdinand insisted his former defensive partner represented a better deal in January.
Rio Ferdinand named Nemanja Vidic the Premier League’s best January transfer
The pair made 187 starts between them at the heart of Manchester United’s defense
‘Van Dijk is the best. No, Nemanja Vidic is the best.’ The former England captain said this to TNT Sports.
In finalizing his choice, Ferdinand pointed to the relatively small fee United paid to Spartak Moscow to secure the Serbs in the winter of 2005.
‘Vidic is the best. Seven million. It’s a cut.’
Asked for his thoughts on fellow pundit Martin Keown, who also made a move in January when he first arrived in north London, Ferdinand called the former Arsenal star ‘great’.
Ferdinand noted that the relatively low fee paid to sign Vidic gave him an edge over Virgil van Dijk
When asked who he thought would be the best deal of January, Keown joked: “I’m picking myself. Rio would have done it!’
In almost a decade at Old Trafford, Vidic would make 300 appearances in all competitions, captaining the club for almost half of his tenure.
The former Serbian international also won five Premier League titles and a Champions League with the club and was twice named Premier League player of the season.