England

Rio Ferdinand: 'Top clubs don't care about England'

By Simon Sinclair, Reporter | 01 October 2014

Rio Ferdinand believes that the top clubs in England have no desire to help improve the national team as they are only focused on their own success.

Rio Ferdinand has claimed that the top clubs in the Premier League do not care about producing talent for the England team.

The 35-year-old is part of a commission that has been set up by the Football Association to delve into the Three Lions' failings at major tournaments and to improve the pool of talent available to the management structure.

Ferdinand feels that the big clubs in England are only focused on themselves and have no desire to help the national side improve.

He wrote in his autobiography: "The big clubs have very little interest in the national team. All they care about is what benefits them, and they think mainly in terms of money.

"So what I expect will happen is what has always happened in English football. We'll muddle along, tweaking a few things here and there.

"You've got to be willing to upset a few people at the beginning but get people to buy into a long-term vision and wait for the fruits to grow."

England recorded their worst performance at the World Cup in Brazil since 1958 as they were knocked out at the group stage.