Another Manchester United legend has spoken up amid the 'war of words' surrounding Manchester United. This time it is Rio Ferdinand (48). He criticized comments by Paul Scholes (52) and Nicky Butt (51) as "crossing the line" and defended Lisandro Martínez (28, Manchester United).
The British Daily Mail reported on the 20th (Korean time) that Rio Ferdinand expressed his views on the recent Martinez controversy on his podcast "Rio Ferdinand Presents." Ferdinand said the comments made by Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt on the podcast "went beyond simple analysis and touched on personal matters."
The controversy began before the Manchester derby. On their podcast, Scholes and Butt referenced the matchup between Martínez and Erling Haaland, using joking expressions such as "Haaland could pick Martínez up and throw him into the goal" and "it would look like a father running while holding his child."
After Manchester United beat Manchester City 2-0, Martínez reacted strongly to those remarks. He publicly retorted, "If you have something to say, come anywhere and say it directly. My home is fine too."
Ferdinand sided with understanding that reaction. He said, "This shouldn't be seen as a simple 'joke (beef).' Some of the things said this week slightly crossed the line and could be perceived as personal." Ferdinand's view was that Butt and Scholes, aside from discussing football ability, directly targeted Lisandro Martínez's "small stature," which could be seen as a personal attack.
Ferdinand added, "I've spoken with Martínez several times online and in person. He is a player who genuinely wants Manchester United to return to the standards it should have."
Ferdinand also described Martínez's temperament. "He is the kind of player who absorbs things so well he would invite you to the training ground and ask you to have a cup of coffee. He's honest in character, showing the same fighting spirit he displays on the pitch, and he's the kind of presence you want in the locker room," he said, drawing a line: "What he said was not an invitation to fight but a way of saying if there's a problem, let's talk face to face." He added, "He's a World Cup winner. He knows how to win."
Scholes and Butt did not remain silent either. Scholes posted a sarcastic message on social media saying, "Someone must have had a good game. A cup of tea? Hold the sugar," and the two later addressed the issue again on their podcast. Nicky Butt said, "His performance that day was excellent. I acknowledge that," but added, "We were just chatting like at a pub. It was a joke. Is that something to react so sensitively to? To be honest, f***ing grow up," using profanity as he pressed hard.
He also said, "If you react so emotionally to comments like this, you shouldn't be at a club like Manchester United. This kind of criticism will follow you throughout your career."
Martínez's position remained unchanged. He said, "People will always say what they want. It's something I can't control," adding, "All I can do is show it on the pitch, and today I did that." Asked whether it motivated him, he curtly replied, "No. My motivation is my family."
Ferdinand concluded by emphasizing his principle. He said, "I have always tried not to make personal attacks. You can criticize performance and form, but attacking the person is different," referencing a past instance when he publicly apologized to Phil Jones. He added, "If you feel the line was crossed, you should be able to speak up directly and apologize."
What began as comments from Manchester United legends ultimately led to a current player's backlash and mediation from another legend. The debate continues, but Ferdinand's point was clear: "If you can say the same thing to the person's face, then it's fair criticism."
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