PAUL McGRATH'S COLUMN: Watch Rio, my son!

ALTHOUGH England fans will still be drowning their sorrows, there was one big positive in their game against Brazil on Friday morning.

His name is Rio Ferdinand and I reckon he's one of the best central defenders in the world right now.

If you're reading this Sir Alex, sign that man for Manchester United now. With him, you can win the Premiership and European Cup next season.

I don't reckon Manchester United have been the same since the departure of Jaap Stam. But I believe big Rio is the player who could make it alright again.

His reading of the game is unrivalled in the English league. When he was at West Ham, I used think he was a little cocky, giving forwards too much time, but he's lost that over confidence since moving to Leeds, and now his game is perfectly tuned.

When they come to pick the best eleven of this World Cup, he must be in it.

I watched the England game at home with my son Christopher. He's an apprentice at Liverpool and following in his dad's footsteps in central defence!

I pointed out Ferdinand to him and told him that Rio should be his role model. Copy him and you won't go far wrong.

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