Venables 'disappointed' with Rio

Leeds manager Terry Venables has revealed his disappointment with Rio Ferdinand for walking out to join bitter rivals Manchester United.

The England centre-back sealed a £29.3m (€46.4m) move to Old Trafford last month just weeks into Venables’ reign as Elland Road boss.

And he said: “Of course I am disappointed in Rio. He had a five-year contract here and only 20 months of it had gone.

“Chairman Peter Ridsdale and my predecessor David O’Leary took a lot of stick for taking him for £18m (€28.5m) from West Ham.

“But they did brilliantly getting Rio here and a player like that you never want to lose.”

Venables conceded he thought he had persuaded Ferdinand to stay – before the lure of Old Trafford became too strong.

“When we started talking with Rio after I arrived, we agreed he wouldn’t go. Then it got very difficult and it was obviously going to be that we had to let him go,” he said.

“I can understand Rio being ambitious and Manchester United is very appealing to him. But what I am saying, too, is don’t sign a long-term deal if you are not going to stand by it. Otherwise there’s no point in having contracts.”