Ferdinand reveals how Man Utd were left stunned by bizarre Robben snub

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has revealed how Arjen Robben rejected a move to Old Trafford because he didn’t like the smell of the club’s training complex.

Robben, who retired in July, enjoyed a trophy-laden career having won – among other silverware – two Premier League titles, the Champions League and the Bundesliga eight times.

The Dutchman rose to prominence early on in his career with Groningen and then PSV, before he earned a move to Chelsea in 2004.

There, his two league titles were added to by an FA Cup triumph and two Carabao Cup successes but, speaking in an Instagram live video, Ferdinand revealed how Robben’s future could have taken a different turn.

Asked to pick between Robben and United teammate Ryan Giggs, Ferdinand said: “I’d have to go for Giggs you know.”

Speaking about Robben, he said: “You knew he was going to come back in on his left but the left-back couldn’t deal with it.

“He’d be saying, ‘I’m going to come in on my left, you’re not gonna stop me’. And they didn’t.

“What a player. Robben was great. We should have signed him at Man United.

“I think he came to the training ground. He walked around and didn’t like the smell and walked off and went Chelsea.

 

 

“I couldn’t believe it. He would have been great for us.”

Robben moved from Chelsea to Real Madrid in 2007 before his move to Bayern Munich followed in 2009, where he spent the rest of his career.

In other news, Ferdinand has told Philippe Coutinho that he would flourish under Jose Mourinho at Tottenham.

Coutinho struggled to settle at Barcelona following his big-money move from Liverpool and he was sent on loan to Bayern this season.

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