Sir Alex Ferguson told a player that if he swapped shirts following a derby defeat, he would never play for Manchester United again

Sir Alex Ferguson ‘destroyed’ one of his Manchester United players, according to Rio Ferdinand, when he switched shirts with a Manchester City opponent following a derby defeat.

The Red Devils were defeated 3-1 at Maine Road in 2002, in Ferdinand’s first derby as a United player following his £30 million move from Leeds.

Shaun Goater scored twice, and Nicolas Anelka also found the back of the net. United’s goal was scored by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but it was his striking partner who sparked controversy following the game.

Ruud van Nistelrooy stepped into the dressing room wearing a City shirt, and Ferguson lost it.

“We got beat 3-1 at Maine Road, with Shaun Goater scoring two goals,” Ferdinand said on an edition of Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE.

“That was my first derby, and I realized how big it was in the locker room afterward.”

“When we walked in, the manager locked the door behind us. He exploded out of nowhere.

“Ruud van Nistelrooy, the God at the time, walked in with a City shirt in his hand, and Sir Alex Ferguson just unloaded on him.”

“He blasted him, telling him, ‘If I ever see any of you strolling around with a City shirt on, you’ll never play for our club again.’

“He was just mad.” ‘This is a big game, isn’t it?’ I thought as I sat there.

“I didn’t realize it before that game, but whether you win more or less, I knew that week leading up to a derby was all or nothing.”

Ferguson gave Van Nistelrooy a dressing down even though he was United’s main striker at the time.

As a response, Ferguson, according to former United captain Gary Neville, prohibited his players from changing shirts in home games.

Van Nistelrooy scored in the rematch at Old Trafford, but City salvaged a draw with a late header from Goater, who came on as a replacement.

Van Nistelrooy scored 150 goals in 219 games over his five seasons at United before joining Real Madrid.

In his final days at United, he clashed with Ferguson, and Van Nistelrooy revealed in 2011 that he went out of his way to apologize to the Scotsman.