Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand intends to go to next year's World Cup - as an England fan.

Ferdinand retired from international football last season.

He told the Manchester Evening News: "I think I will be going over as a fan to be honest. When we went to World Cups and the coach would drive us to the stadium I used to see the fan festivals going on and thought it looked like good fun so I would love to go out to Brazil and cheer the team on. I am a football fan.

"People seem to forget that because you are a player you don't have the same feelings as a fan but you do and I want us to qualify for Brazil and do well over there next summer."