MANCHESTER UNITED legend Rio Ferdinand has claimed he was almost reduced to tears after reading Sir Alex Ferguson’s text message about Ravel Morrison.
The BT Sport pundit was joined by his former team-mate on his FIVE YouTube channel where he read out text messages from their ex-manager.
Morrison only featured in three first team appearances for United before he was sold to West Ham in January 2012.
And the Jamaica international spoke of how he failed to maximise his potential at Old Trafford after making his debut as a 17-year-old.
Ferdinand revealed that Ferguson told him Morrison’s footballing ability was on the same level as Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, but he was ultimately ‘beaten by his background’.
Welcoming the 28-year-old to his podcast, Ferdinand stated: “Everyone wants to know about Ravel Morrison. Child superstar.
“Sir Alex Ferguson texted me this morning and said you was on a par with Scholes and Giggs at 15. He’s never seen anything like it.”
He later read out another message from Fergie, as he added: “Rio, my first and last impression of Ravel as a young lad was that he has always got time and space, always available to be on the ball, so unusual for a young lad of his age.
“Give my regards to him please. Another thing about Ravel which I’ve always treasured, because no other young player who made their debut did this.
“After the first game in the first team that he played, the next morning he came into my office and gave me a letter, thanking me for giving him his debut.
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“I was gobsmacked Rio. The boy had a good heart, he was just beaten by his background.”
Ferdinand admitted that the honest and open text made him emotional, as he stated: “I almost started crying.”
And Morrison was also left touched by his mentor’s message, as he stressed he would do things differently if he had the chance.
He said: “When I made my debut – words can’t describe that you know.
“Making your debut for Man United it was only a minute as well.
“It touches you because if I could go back in time I’d would change 90 per cent of my life.”
Morrison also declared that he used to steal boots from the dressing room to sell to help feed his family.
