The former defender has named the Lazio midfielder as the best academy star he's ever seen come through the ranks at Manchester United
Rio Ferdinand has named Ravel Morrison as the best academy player he’s ever seen and says the midfielder was even idolised by Paul Pogba at Manchester United.
The 23-year-old looked destined for stardom after impressing for United’s academy sides but problems off the field stifled the midfielder’s progression to the first team.
After leaving Old Trafford, Morrison subsequently struggled to settle at West Ham, Birmingham City and Cardiff City, while he’s played just 53 minutes in Serie A for Lazio this season.
When asked to name the best academy star he’d ever seen, Ferdinand told The Daily Mail: “Ravel Morrison.
“Sir Alex Ferguson said 'come and have a look at this kid'. Me and Wazza [Wayne Rooney] walked out and there was an Under-15 or Under-16 game going on.
“Fergie said he was the best kid he'd ever seen, better than Giggsy or anyone. He was just playing the game as and when he wanted to play. He would slow it down, then speed it up.
“It tells you something that when they were 15, 16, 17, Paul Pogba and Adnan Januzaj used to look up to him and idolise him. This kid was the gospel. But he didn't have the mentality to cement himself in a team environment.”
Morrison now looks set to leave Lazio having been frozen out of the first team, but Ferdinand his still hoping the midfielder can rescue his career.
“It's a shame he hasn't had the right people around him,” said the former defender.
“I’d love to have been able to get hold of him now if he was still 15 or 16. Sometimes you've got to let those kind of people find themselves but I'm always available if he wants to reach out.”
- Goal