Former Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand has revealed that he “came close” to leaving United to join Spanish giants Barcelona following a round of talks with the La Liga outfit.

The defender, who joined the Old Trafford club from Leeds United in July 2002, established himself as one of the best central defenders the Premier League has ever seen over the course of his United career.

Among Ferdinand’s long list of successes during his United career was the UEFA Champions League triumph in 2008 when Sir Alex Ferguson’s side defeated Chelsea on penalties in an all-English final in Russia.

On their way to that final, United had defeated Barcelona at the semi-final stage, winning 1-0 on aggregate thanks to a goal from Paul Scholes in the second-leg at Old Trafford.

Now, Ferdinand, who retired from playing at the end of the 2014/15 season – just one season after leaving United – has revealed that he could have been lining up for Barcelona the following season after his agent held discussions with the La Liga club about a possible move.

Ferdinand, speaking to BT Sport, said:

“It came close, there were discussions with my agent. Barcelona had touched base. I’d spoken to [Frank] Rijkaard [the Barcelona manager] not about going there but he kind of made his feelings known.

“It was after the game in Barcelona we drew 0-0 in the tunnel after the game when I spoke to Rijkaard.

“I always said I wanted to play abroad but the only thing that would stop me was if I was winning and successful on home shores. I was lucky I found a great club at Manchester United it would’ve been almost impossible for me to leave.”

Though even getting a sniff of an opportunity to play for Barcelona is something only a particular crop of players will get during their careers, Ferdinand has no regrets about not sealing a move to the Nou Camp.

“There was calls for me to go to various clubs,” Ferdinand added. “When that was on the table those clubs were in transition and it didn’t make sense to go somewhere it might take two or three years to win things.

“There is an etiquette but you get the gist of what someone is saying. I think Frank was a very respectful gentleman.

“But at the end of the day you know where you’re at after a conversation and then your agent starts to confirm through other channels you understand where you are at that point.

“But we beat them and went on to become European Champions so why would I leave them to go to another team?

“At that point Xavi, Iniesta, Messi was just 20, they were just starting to come through. They weren’t the players they were three or four years later. It was a very different landscape at that time but what a club.”