Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand has criticized Arsenal fans for their reaction to the club’s pursuit of Chelsea forward Noni Madueke.
Madueke is all set to join Arsenal from Chelsea this summer transfer window.
Both Arsenal and Chelsea have already reached agreement for the deal that would the Englishman leave Stamford Bridge for North London this summer.
The Gunners paid £52m to sign Madueke although the move is yet to be confirmed.
But as the agreement was ongoing, some Arsenal fans showed their displeasure to the move and started an online petition labelled #NOTOMADUEKE.
However, Ferdinand took to X on Saturday to offer his thoughts on the development, labelling the behaviour of a section of the Arsenal supporters after learning of the deal for Madueke as a “utter disgrace.”
In a lengthy post, Ferdinand said: “Noni Madueke, For a Young 23 year old English footballer to be vilified, bullied, embarrassed and totally strip down at a time when you’re meant to be celebrating a transfer worth £55 million.
“Yes a young kid with a dream about to secure a £55 million dream move to a club of his desire leaving a rival at that to be treated in this manner via section of the Arsenal fan base is an utter disgrace.
“Just put yourself in his shoes for one minute. Just put yourself in his parents’ shoes for one minute and just think of how that feeling must be. I’ll say it again, at a time as a player, as a human, as a family you should be celebrating. I just hope the people that are closest to him are around him and supporting him in the way that he needs right now.
“It’’s fine for fans to disagree with signings or decisions made at their football club but the way some fans have publicly voiced their opinions and those who have gone a step further in publicly joining a petition for this player not to be signed by their football club is beyond me.”
