Rio Ferdinand believes Danny Welbeck is still good enough to be playing for Manchester United.
The forward, now at Brighton, was among a host of players to be moved on by Louis van Gaal during his two-year spell at Old Trafford. The Dutchman was an unpopular figure among the fans but some of his decisions have had long-lasting impacts at the club.
Ferdinand has taken issue with him selling a host of players, Welbeck being one, who had come through the club's system. Rafael and Fabio were moved on at the same time as Welbeck whilst Jonny Evans was also allowed to leave. Arsenal snapped up Welbeck and he now finds himself playing at the Amex.
By no means the most visually appealing strikers of the modern era, but Welbeck continues to do a job for Brighton, who have secured European football and Ferdinand is adamant that he would cut the mustard in Manchester. He told Vibe with Five : "Welbeck? Welbeck is good enough now [to play for United]."
The 32-year-old has scored six league goals in each of his three seasons at Brighton, but it is often his build up play and unselfish work that earns the plaudits. United find themselves short of forward options, hence their desire to add a No 9 in the summer with Marcus Rashford heavily relied on to produce in the final third.
Ferdinand's rant began by him lamenting Van Gaal's decision to sell certain players: "They were the lifeblood of Manchester United, they all came through the system, all Man United boys, and that was lost as well. That was a part of what the club had been built on before, people who would come through the academy were integral to everything Man United stood for.
"And they were getting rid of those players willy-nilly, I couldn’t believe the club even allowed it." He also added: "What they did at Man United they could’ve done that for the rest of their career," Ferdinand added.
Ferdinand, who had left the club by this point, has hailed Evans as the best centre-half at the club at the time The Northern Irishman has had spells at West Brom and Leicester, whom he won the FA Cup with, but has now been relegated leaving his future in doubt.
United themselves are set for another summer of recruitment as Erik ten Hag looks to build on a positive season. Over £200m was spent on the likes of Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro 12 months ago with Harry Kane and Mason Mount among their targets in the coming window.
