Rio Ferdinand once revealed that he approached Arsene Wenger about joining Arsenal when he found out that he was being axed as part of Louis van Gaal's clear out in the summer of 2014.
Back then, Manchester United had finished the season in 7th position under David Moyes whilst Arsenal had secured qualification for the Champions League in 4th place.
Speaking on his YouTube show, the former England International admitted he told Wenger that he felt he could bring something into the Arsenal dressing room during that period that would help them sustain the club as part of the Premier League's elite.
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"I said, 'Arsene, listen, I am leaving Man United and if you want, I will come and try and help the dressing room etc, because I think you need help in that department. I will obviously play but, more importantly, I will come for the culture.'"
Should he have joined, he would have been an option for a partnership alongside Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny. At 35-years-old, Ferdinand opened up that he felt he could have had a positive influence on the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere who were both coming through at the time.
As it happened, Wenger decided against Ferdinand's forward approach, something he says he can understand.
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"He (Wenger) didn't take me up on the offer and he was right because my performances at QPR weren't up to the levels," Ferdinand says. "But in the changing room, I believe I could have helped him, because that is where a lot of the culture derives from."
It is well documented how senior players such as Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick ran the dressing room at Manchester United, making sure standards and traditions were always maintained.
Despite both clubs being at the forefront of the conversation for major honours during Ferdinand's era, both clubs have since faded away some what, with United slowly coming back into contention.
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It is definitely not a move that wouldn't have tarnished his reputation amongst Manchester United fans but you do wonder the impact he could have had on the young players mentioned and more, should Arsene Wenger have taken him up on the offer to bring him through the doors at the Emirates Stadium.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football, Manchester United, Rio Ferdinand, Arsenal