Ronaldo was dropped for Manchester United's Premier League game at Chelsea on Saturday after walking off before the end of a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspurs on Wednesday.
News later emerged that the five-time Ballon D'or winner refused to come on as a substitute before heading for the tunnel, something manager Erik Ten Hag accepted was true in Friday's pre-match news conference.
Ronaldo has only started two of Manchester United's 11 Premier League matches this season after failing to secure a move away at the start of the campaign.
Ferdinand believes Ten Hag is to blame for the messy situation that is rumbling at Old Trafford as Ronaldo's standing in the game means he needs to be treated differently from other players.
"I wouldn't have been happy as a player," Ferdinand told BT Sport.
"Ronaldo mentioned he would have handled things differently. Any emotions attached to it; it takes control. I probably would have been in the queue asking him about it.
"There's always another side to it. When you're dealing with Cristiano Ronaldo, he's Ronaldo. The way of treating him is different to everybody else.
"Communication. That's probably the first time in his life where that's not upheld by the manager.
"I'm not saying he was right but there are special players sometimes in a squad that things work differently for.
"It's important for the team to see that he is communicated with. He's 37. He probably needs that more than ever."
