RIO FERDINAND SAID THAT EARLY ON HE NEARLY JOINED BARCELONA.

The former England Leeds United and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand who was a real big success with both of them England and Manchester United. But he was saying in THE METRO, that he was indeed very close to signing up with the Spanish giants Barcelona.. But after very careful thinking he and his agent decided not to go ahead and sign up with Barcelona ,as Manchester United was a better club. This could not be further from the truth as the real reason why Rio Ferdinand decided not to sign up for Barcelona . The real reason could very will be this. Rio Ferdinand knew very well as a central defender and with Barcelona having bth very good central defenders in Carle's Puyol and Gerrard Pique , were much younger then so e would have been sitting on the bench most of the time, while at Manchester United he was starting each game.