Rio Ferdinand is certainly more than within his rights to provide insight on central defenders given his long and illustrious career as a centre-back for English giants Manchester United.
If the six-times Premier League champion praises a defender, he usually hits the mark, but unfortunately for him, Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven let him down this afternoon.
Rio Ferdinand hails Micky Van de Ven as a “Rolls Royce”
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What did Rio Ferdinand say?
Ferdinand kept his appraisal of the Dutch defender short and sweet ahead of the match, describing the 22-year-old as “an absolute Rolls Royce of a centre-half” who “has the chance to be one of the best defenders around.”
That level of praise is high enough to place the Tottenham star in the same bracket as the likes of William Saliba and Virgil Van Dijk.
A disaster-class from Van de Ven
However, rather hilariously, just hours after that incredibly high praise was aired, Van de Ven went on to endure a very difficult game against the Magpies.
In a period of time less than two minutes long within the game, the Dutchman slipped twice in dangerous positions, allowing Newcastle to score a quickfire double and left Spurs fans frustrated.
Then, later on in the game, the defender decided to step forward, leaving space in behind which Alexander Isak took full advantage of, scoring the home side's third of the match.
It was truly a day to forget for the young star.
Fans ridicule Ferdinand
As is always the case in the digital era we find ourselves in, fans were quick to ridicule Ferdinand for his pre-match opinions on social media.
One supporter took to X, formerly Twitter, to say: “Rio at it again, and he gets paid for this. Give him a new contract nowwww.”
While another claimed that the pundit knew nothing about football, labelling the ex-Manchester United defender as a fraud.
A third fan hilariously joked “To be fair, the bottom looks like the top when you are standing on your head…”
Ferdinand takes it well
"Well sometimes Rolls-Royces need an MOT" 🤣@lynseyhipgrave1 calls out @rioferdy5 for his Micky van de Ven praise pre-game…
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/qmr8J5QecS
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 13, 2024
But, in all fairness to the 45-year-old, he took the jokes very well and even responded to them after the match.
When quizzed on his previous lofty praise for Van de Ven, Ferdinand said: “Well sometimes Rolls-Royces do have technical issues and they have to go for an MOT and get a once over.”
Up next for Van de Ven is Arsenal, and he will be hoping to endear himself to Tottenham fans once more – and of course to Rio Ferdinand.