Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has revealed that his children enjoy greater freedom in Dubai compared to London. The 47-year-old moved his family to the United Arab Emirates last summer, but his wife Kate has admitted to struggling with homesickness.
Speaking to The Times, Ferdinand said: 'My kids are having a real-life adventure [in Dubai]. My eldest daughter is 14. She loves that she’s got a bit more freedom here than she would have had in London. My five-year-old boy likes that he gets to play more football. The kids are absolutely loving the outdoor-living aspect.'
Ferdinand and Kate have five children: two together, Cree and Shae, and Lorenz, Tate and Tia from his marriage to his late wife Rebecca Ellison. The family temporarily left Dubai earlier this year due to regional conflict, staying in Portugal, London and the Maldives, but have since returned.
Despite Ferdinand's enthusiasm, a source told Heat magazine that Kate is 'putting on a brave face' and remains scared. 'She feels she’s going through the motions at the moment. Rio has assured her it’s now safe, but she is still scared.' The insider added that Kate plans to spend the summer in the UK and possibly Portugal while Rio works in the US during the World Cup.
In February, Kate broke down on her Blended podcast, admitting: 'I am enjoying it, but I miss home quite a lot. I can’t talk about it because I get upset. I feel like we’ve opened our eyes to a different world. But I love London.'
