London, Feb 2 : Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has claimed his team's appeal throughout the world is much better than that of the England team.

The Red Devils centre-back is fiercely patriotic and he said playing for England has been one of the highlights of his career, but the centre-back insists it is an inescapable fact that the Premier League leaders are bigger than the national team, the Sun reports.

This week it was announced United are the first sports club to be worth more than two billion pounds. Ferdinand said before he signed for United in 2002, he remembers talking to former Red Devil Nicky Butt at the World Cup in Japan.

Ferdinand added that Butt told him that if he thinks he gets a big following with England then you should wait until you sign for United.

Ferdinand added he didn't really get it at the time but claimed Butt was absolutely right, adding when they tour places like Asia with United, it's just amazing and the interest is so much more than anything you experience with England. (ANI)