Rio Ferdinand: 'I got 50 Cent to work for nothing'

Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand has admitted that he managed to rope in 50 Cent to play a part for free in a British gangster blockbuster the football star self-financed.

The England defender managed to persuade the rapper to come on board after he heard that the film 'Dead Man Running' would help disadvantaged children.

"He's a businessman and he understands if he cracks it in a country other than his own - it's a big market, Europe - then he knows he's onto a good thing. It's taken him out of his comfort zone, (which is) doing stuff in his own country with people that he knows," said Ferdinand.

He added: "I think you've got to sometimes take your hat off to someone who can let themself go out somewhere in a vulnerable kind of way and still do as well as he did. He came over for three or four days, did all his scenes in and out quick, very professional - testament to him."

This is not the first time the pair have teamed up together. Three years ago the rapper was joined by Ferdinand and his team-mate Wayne Rooney onstage at the MEN Arena in Manchester.

The movie, which also stars Danny Dyer, was co-financed by Ferdinand and Chelsea defender Ashley Cole, and sees Dyer's character trying to find £100,000 in 24 hours to repay a loan shark played by 50 Cent.

Ferdinand said he also got involved in putting the film together.

He told BBC Newsbeat: "I was part of doing some of the editing, as well as putting the music to the film. I went to one of the final screenings as well to nit pick."

50 Cent has previously starred in movies such as the semi-autobiographical 'Get Rich Or Die Tryin'' and 'Righteous Kill'.