Rio Ferdinand: 'Karim Benzema better than Luis Suarez'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 30 May 2016

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand claims that Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is a tougher opponent than Barcelona's Luis Suarez.

Former Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand has claimed that he found it 'more difficult' to play against Karim Benzema than Luis Suarez during his playing career.

Benzema lifted the Champions League title with Real Madrid on Saturday night and ended the campaign with 28 goals in 36 appearances for the capital giants.

Barcelona forward Suarez, however, hit 59 goals in 53 appearances as Luis Enrique's side won a La Liga and Copa del Rey double.

Ferdinand took on both during his playing career, and has revealed that he found it harder to mark Benzema due to the Frenchman's movement in the final third.

"From personal experience playing against both of those players, I found it harder to play against [Benzema]," Ferdinand told BT Sport. "Because he was very cute, he was very efficient in all areas, off his right and left foot, his movement was cute.

"And sometimes you don't see it glaringly, but he does cute little things that take you out of position that other players can exploit. And when he gets the ball he's got a quick trigger. Suarez is equally as difficult but I just found [Benzema] a little bit more."

Ferdinand is currently being strongly linked with a return to Man United as a coach under new manager Jose Mourinho.