RIO FERDINAND last night insisted that Manchester United are better off WITHOUT Ronaldinho, blasting: We only want players who will die for this club.
The England centre-half believes Ronaldinho could have destroyed the dressing room harmony that led to Premiership glory last season because the Brazilian would not have been fully committed to United. Ferdinand insists the World Cup winner's hesitation about joining United, coupled with his lavish demands, proved the club were RIGHT not to match Barcelona's �21million bid. Rio opened his heart about the transfer saga and the secrets behind his roller-coaster debut season at Old Trafford. He also told how: He FAILED to meet his own high standards. Was FRUSTRATED by three operations. Felt winning the title JUSTIFIED his decision to quit Leeds. Ferdinand, 24, said: "We only need players who want to play here. If Ronaldinho doesn't want to join then good luck to him. "He can go and play where he wants. It doesn't matter to us. "I don't know how much you can read into his demands for helicopters and other stuff. "In the end, only one thing really mattered � that he had the chance to play for Manchester United. "I don't know why the transfer collapsed but if he had really wanted to come here, really wanted to become a Manchester United player and really wanted to wear the red shirt then he would have done. "He, obviously, didn't want it enough." Ferdinand knows this is a big year for both himself and for United. He admits he failed to hit the standards expected of a �30m British transfer record signing, even though he won a Premiership medal. A series of niggling injuries coupled with three operations hampered his first season at Old Trafford and left some critics claiming that United had bought the wrong man. But Ferdinand insists he will prove the doubters wrong next season by rediscovering the form which made him one of the world's most wanted defenders. He said: "In the end, it was a good first year. Coming to United and winning the championship at the first attempt � I couldn't have asked for much more. "I left Leeds because I wanted to go to a club where I had a chance of winning things and that happened. "The downside of last season was that my injuries were frustrating. I had never been injured until I came here. "Now I've had three operations, although I am not using that as an excuse. "Injuries get on your nerves but you have to get on with it. These things happen for a reason and you have to get through it. "Of course, when you go somewhere new you are eager to do well. You want to go out there and put in 100 per cent performances� but I didn't play well consistently enough. "But we won the League with the best defensive record and if I have that as a starting point then I've done all right. "Winning the title shut up a lot of people and justified why I joined United." Speaking at Nike's multi-billion pound world HQ in Oregon, Ferdinand also revealed how the team's desire left him wanting to join the world's sporting greats. He added: "You don't realise just how big this club is until you get here. "The expectations of the supporters and the people in and around the club are enormous. "I learned a lot about Manchester United last season and the character and belief among the players here. "We believe in each other and feel that if we win one or two games we can go on a run of 10 or 11 victories. "We won the League with that incredible run of nine wins and a draw in our final 10 matches. "Before Christmas, people were saying we weren't going to win anything. "And that is why we celebrated so much when we picked up the trophy on the last day of the season at Everton. You could see players who had won the title six or seven times were enjoying the occasion as much as those who were winning it for the first time. "We have a genuine belief in each other. Our manager Sir Alex Ferguson demands we do well and no one sits on their laurels. "Winning the title was fantastic for me � but it is not enough. "I want to win the European Cup and the FA Cup because I haven't won either. "The players are hungry and the boss will bring in more players who are just as hungry. "As for me, I want to be the best. You look around the Nike HQ and see people like Lance Armstrong, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods all have buildings named after them. "That's what I want, Ferdinand Towers in my honour! I want to join the legends." Ferdinand also insists United will be the team to beat again next season, despite the cash Chelsea are spending and the departure of David Beckham. He added: "It is sad to see someone go. Becks has been such a great player and done so much for us but Manchester United is bigger than anyone. "The manager has been in the market for years. He knows who he is buying and we have to trust his judgment. "He has proved it time and again with the success he has brought the club. "We know it will be tough next season. "Chelsea would have been up there anyway, regardless of all the money they have spent, because they have some real quality players. "Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle will all pose a threat so it will be tight. "Obviously it would be nice to win it by Christmas but it doesn't happen like that. "We know our capabilities and we know what we want � and if we concentrate on that then nobody can stop us." ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Free shipping on all inkjet cartridge & refill kit orders to US & Canada. Low prices up to 80% off. 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