I thought something was afoot when the FA decided to take no further action against Rio Ferdinand following his little “altercation” with Torres last week. It’s not like the FA to miss an opportunity to stick the boot into our Rio.
The waters became a little clearer this last few days.
After being given the cold shoulder as far as the England squad is concerned for the last couple of years (including a snub by the current England manager when selecting his squad for last year’s European Championships), Roy Hodgson suddenly wanted Rio Ferdinand back in the fold.
I shouldn’t be surprised, I suppose. Rio remains one of the very best centre-backs in England, plays an integral part for the best, most successful team in England and has more big-game experience than anyone else in the England squad. 81 caps for England would also suggest that he knows a thing or two about representing his country, too.
But he had all this going for him last year when Roy Hodgson was omitting him from his Euro 2012 squad. He had all this going for him when Gary Cahill had to withdraw due to injury only for Rio to be overlooked again as Roy brought in Martin Kelly to take Cahill’s place.
It seems that at this critical stage of the domestic season, many England players, perhaps not sufficiently roused by the prospect of a game against San Marino, have suddenly picked up a few injuries in the defensive positions and this left Roy with no option but to go to Rio with the SOS call.
Rio, being as diplomatic as ever, and clearly not wishing to burn all England bridges just in case there’s a World Cup slot in the offing next Summer, has had to turn down the offer as it would interfere with his pre-planned fitness regime.
The game against Montenegro is not until next Tuesday – I might be wrong but I think even a creaky, old Rio Ferdinand and his dodgy back could have squeezed a game out of himself in that time were it United v Real Madrid again.
No. Rio’s excuse seems to be about as honest as Roy’s “footballing reasons” were last summer to me.
I’m not complaining, though. England’s loss has most definitely been United’s gain for the last couple of years and, all things considered, last summer’s shambolic England performance only enhanced the reputations of all those who had absolutely nothing to do with it.
Stick with United, Rio. We know a decent defender when we see one.