Manchester United

Harry Maguire names Rio Ferdinand as dream defensive partner

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 08 May 2020

Maguire names Ferdinand as dream defensive partner

Harry Maguire reveals that he "looked up to" Rio Ferdinand as a youngster and selects the former Manchester United centre-back as his dream defensive teammate.

Harry Maguire has named Rio Ferdinand as his dream centre-back partner at Manchester United.

England international Maguire has settled well in his first season for United after joining in an £80m deal from Leicester City last summer.

The world's most expensive defender played a part in nine clean sheets in 11 matches alongside Victor Lindelof prior to the coronavirus pandemic.

Asked to pick one former United player to link up with in the heart of defence, however, Maguire revealed that he shaped his own game on that of Ferdinand.

"I think that is a tough question because there are so many excellent defenders that have been at this club, loads that I have looked up to and built my game around," he told United's official website.

"I would go with Rio Ferdinand. I have always spoken highly about Rio and the way that I looked up to him when I was younger.

"I tried to model my game around him and I learned so much from watching him, so I will go with Rio. He took defending to another level, in terms of bringing the ball out from the back, stepping in and committing players.

"He's the player who made me open my eyes and think 'that's what you need to be a top centre-back'."

Ferdinand won 10 major honours, including six Premier League titles, during his 12 years with United.