Rio Ferdinand: 'Ryan Giggs wanted me to stay'

Rio Ferdinand has revealed that he would have remained at Manchester United had Ryan Giggs been given the manager's job.

Giggs took interim charge for the final four games of last season following the sacking of David Moyes, but he was overlooked for the job on a permanent basis in favour of Louis van Gaal.

As a result, Ferdinand was released and he has since signed a one-year contract with Queens Park Rangers.

"When [Giggs] took over he made it clear I would have stayed and been part of his plans. In football things change quickly and the new manager came in and things went a different way," he told reporters. "I made it clear [I would have stayed] but at the end of the season they told me I was leaving the club and that happens in football."

Ferdinand spent 12 years at Old Trafford following his £30m switch from Leeds United.