Rio Ferdinand has accused Paul Merson of making bold statements about Marcel Sabitzer without having ever watched him play.
Sabitzer joined Manchester United on loan until the end of the season from Bayern Munich on January transfer deadline day. The Austria international has been signed to provide depth in central midfield after Christian Eriksen was ruled out until late April or early May with an ankle injury.
The 28-year-old has struggled for game time at Bayern this season, only starting seven Bundesliga matches, and Merson has accused United of panic-buying. "He doesn't get in the Bayern Munich team, as the manager just said. He's way off that," the former Arsenal midfielder said of Sabitzer on Sky Sports.
"Their two in midfield [Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka] is cemented, but if he was that good, he'd be pushing. So, again, it goes back to panic. There was no interest in him on January 1st. Now, it's a panic buy. Eriksen has just got injured, it's a panic. You're buying fourth-choice Bayern Munich players. For me, I'm not sure about that. He doesn't get into the Bayern Munich team."
Sabitzer has been stuck behind the likes of Kimmich, Goretzka and Jamal Musiala in the pecking order at Bayern. He has contributed just two goals and two assists in 54 games since joining the club in a £13.7million transfer from RB Leipzig in August 2021.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Is Marcel Sabitzer a panic buy? Will he prove to be a success at Manchester United? Comment below.
However, Ferdinand is convinced that Sabitzer will turn out to be an astute piece of business from United. He gave short shrift to Merson’s assessment of the deal on his Vibe with Five YouTube channel.
“For me, those comments stink of someone who hasn't seen him play. This guys knows how to play football,” Ferdinand said in response to Merson.
“I am absolutely delighted with [the signing]. If I was trying to get a short-term replacement for Eriksen at the drop of a hat, Sabitzer is the player I would get.
“I watched a hell of a lot of this player when he was at RB Leipzig and he was sensational. He was integral to everything they did. Yes he's gone to Bayern and hasn't torn it up there or become a regular, but the players he's behind are big, household names.
“He will be a really good signing for Man United. He's an experienced player who has played in big games, Champions League games.”
While he has struggled to make an impact at Bayern, Sabitzer had a stellar record at his previous two clubs. He was brought to Bavaria by Julian Nagelsmann, who was instrumental in his impressive return in his previous role as Leipzig manager.
Sabitzer scored 52 goals and provided 42 assists in 229 games for Leipzig and was even more prolific at feeder club Red Bull Salzburg, where he contributed 27 goals and 21 assists in 51 games.
The Austria international is ineligible to play against Nottingham Forest in the second leg of United’s Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday. Instead, he may get his first chance to change Merson’s mind when United host Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.
