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Rio coming home?

West Ham academy graduate Rio Ferdinand has left Manchester United and is available as a free agent.

On his own website 5Mag.co Rio said:

“I have thought long and hard over the last few months about my future, and after 12 fantastic years playing, for what I regard, as the best club in the world, I have decided the time is right for me to move on.I joined Manchester United in the hope of winning trophies, and never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined how successful we would be during my time here. There have been so many highlights, playing alongside some great players who have become good friends, winning my first Premier League title and also that fantastic night in Moscow are memories that I will cherish forever. Circumstances didn’t allow for me to say goodbye the way I would have liked but I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my teammates, staff, the club & the fans for an unbelievable 12 yrs that I’ll never forget. Winning trophies I dreamed about as a kid came true at this great club.I am feeling fit and healthy, ready for a new challenge and looking forward to whatever the future holds for me”

He is understood to be personally keen to return to his roots and play for West Ham but his wage demands are likely to rule out to a return to the Boleyn ground.The 35-year-old’s departure from Manchester United was confirmed after Manchester United decided not to offer the defender a new deal.

Ferdinand came through the academy ranks at West Ham before moving to Leeds United in an £18m deal in November 2000. He made 127 appearances for West Ham and a return has been long been rumoured for some but it is believed Ferdinand would have to take a massive pay cut for the move to happen. It is believed that Joe Cole who confirmed yesterday he is leaving West Ham took a massive 66% pay cut to return to West ham from Liverpool. Rio is believed to have been on £120,000 per week would have to take a similar pay cut of at least 66% to fit within West Ham current wage structure.

Would you want Rio back in the team next season or have we moved on?

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