Former England defender, Rio Ferdinand, has opened up about his lighthearted relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo, revealing that the Portuguese superstar hardly speaks in their Manchester United alumni WhatsApp group.
Ferdinand disclosed that Ronaldo now jokingly refers to him as a “journalist” — a playful jab at the ex-defender’s current career as a sports pundit and podcast host.
Speaking to The Times, Ferdinand shared that the Al Nassr forward teases him for his media work, suggesting that he’s wary about sharing too much information around him.
“It’s funny because Cristiano [Ronaldo] calls me a journalist now,” he said.
“He messaged me saying, ‘Now I can’t say too much in the United WhatsApp group — Rio’s in there. Rio the journalist!’”
The pair, who shared the pitch 221 times during their Manchester United days, have maintained a close friendship since Ronaldo’s departure to Real Madrid in 2009.
Ronaldo had previously appeared on Ferdinand’s football podcast, where he spoke about his drive to keep playing at the top level despite his age.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, now at Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, continues to make headlines both on and off the pitch — but according to the former teammate, he prefers to keep things quiet in the group chat these days.
