Rio Ferdinand has defended himself and a string of fellow Manchester United legends following stinging criticism from the club’s current Brazil international winger Antony.

The 23-year-old has faced a tumultuous beginning to his tenure at United since his £82 million move from Ajax 18 months ago.

Following a hopeful beginning, the unpredictable winger’s self-assurance rapidly faded, leading to inconsistent appearances in Erik ten Hag’s starting lineup this season.

Accusations of domestic abuse and assault have heightened scrutiny and pressure on the priciest acquisition during Ten Hag’s tenure so far.

Antony expressed frustration with critics like Ferdinand and Paul Scholes, who have scrutinized his season’s performances. Despite the former England center-half understanding the off-field challenges faced by the United star, he maintains that highlighting Antony’s on-field impact is justified.

Rio Ferdinand told Vibe with FIVE: ‘Listen, Giggsy was getting booed at times. Ryan Giggs! So I see people like Antony chatting in the paper about where’s the support and players not having the type of pressures I’ve had.

‘I haven’t seen him get booed at Old Trafford yet. Ryan Giggs was getting booed week in and week out for a sustained amount of time. Let that sink in! And these man are talking about pressure.

‘It’s different times and different pressures but it’s similar across the board and it’s about how you deal with pressure.

‘I wasn’t looking for no support from people, I had pressure when I came back from my drugs ban and I had to play you think I weren’t under pressure to perform? You think I didn’t have all eyes on me every minute of the day? In training, in the matches, off the pitch do you think there weren’t paparazzi following me everywhere?

‘I wasn’t moaning this is part of it, this Manchester United, this is what this emblem brings. It brings an extra level of pressure that a lot of other clubs bar the Real Madrid’s of this world don’t really feel.

‘When you walk into the door at that club there’s going to be every type of pressure you can feel, or you didn’t even dream you could feel.

‘Listen, I sympathise with Antony in some of things, he’s had a few big issues off the pitch. But listen, us ex-players, we aint a vindictive bunch, we’re not a personal bunch. None of us have called him out personally, we’re just saying what we see.

‘If there’s a player isn’t doing and we think he should be doing we’re within our rights in the job that we do to call it out. Simple as that.

‘Listen, how many of these players are going to accept a DM from most of these guys who are talking. Listen bruv you need to sort yourself out, you need to start doing this or doing that. You think man are going to call you back and thank you for it? I doubt it very much.’