Mark Goldbridge brands Rio Ferdinand a “TikTok influencer” over Arteta hot take

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has been compared to a “basic TikTok influencer” for his “nonsense” claim about Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.

Ferdinand claimed earlier this week that Arteta would leave Arsenal to join Manchester United if the opportunity presented itself, despite the Gunners being in a much stronger position this season.

“Arteta would leave Arsenal to join Man United, 100 per cent,” Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.

“No one is saying it’s happening but if Man United in a wild dream said, ‘do you know what, Erik ten Hag, thank you’ or Erik ten Hag has been poached by Bayern Munich, and he goes there, and then Man United say top of the list is Arteta, Arteta is going in and saying to the lads, ‘listen guys, it’s been emotional but I’ve got to move, I’ve got to go.’”

Goldbridge slams Ferdinand claim

But YouTuber and Manchester United fan Mark Goldbridge disagrees with Ferdinand and has suggested the former England captain is either a “prat” or behaving like a “TikTok influencer”.

“I think it’s absolutely ridiculous,” Goldbridge told talkSPORT. “There’s no way Mikel Arteta – a former Arsenal player – is going to leave Arsenal, who are in a much better position, to join Manchester United.

“And either Rio Ferdinand is a major prat, or he’s doing something he just doesn’t need to do. A few weeks ago he was interviewing Jose Mourinho, and it’s a good interview, and then two weeks later he’s like a basic Tik Tok influencer spouting nonsense for views.

“As an ex-legend of Manchester United I just find this type of content really confusing. It’s just nonsense for views and he just doesn’t need to do it.

“He’ll be on TV talking about tactics, which he knows, or he’ll be interviewing Mourinho, and then come out with a load of nonsense like that, which is probably ‘banter’.

“He did it in the summer, he did it from a training station when he said, ‘I’ve heard Qatar are going to buy Man United’ and it’s not true.”