More misery for Rio as injuries sour United win

Royal Antwerp 1 Manchester United 6

Just as Alex Ferguson feared, the outcry over Ferdinand’s failure to commit his long-term future to Old Trafford has dogged United’s pre-season programme and there was more misery for the former Leeds man in the Bosuil Stadium.

Ferdinand was jeered on most occasions when he picked up possession, the taunting turning into more vicious verbal abuse at times, with the most venomous attacks saved for the end of each half.

That, and late injuries to inspirational duo Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, who both appeared to suffer heavy ankle knocks, took the gloss off a comfortable United victory which saw Ruud van Nistelrooy make a welcome return to form with a first-half hat-trick.

Van Nistelrooy (3) Paul Scholes, Ronaldo and Darren Fletcher were the goal-scorers.

At half-time, the 200 United fans close to the tunnel raced forward to the railings to spit out their bile as Ferdinand headed for his half-time break, in close company with assistant manager Carlos Queiroz.