‘They were the cornerstone – that was lost’: Rio Ferdinand hammers Man United’s decision to let FIVE unsung stars leave after Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement… and says he can’t believe ‘it was allowed’ “
- Rio Ferdinand has announced Manchester United’s decision to sell some players
- Ferdinand unhappy five stars were allowed to leave Old Trafford
- The former defender was shocked by the decision to move Jonny Evans
Rio Ferdinand has slammed Manchester United for losing their ‘lifesaving’ after previously allowing five players to leave the club following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
United were last crowned Premier League champions in Ferguson’s final season 10 years ago, with Ferdinand playing a crucial role in the title-winning side.
The Premier League hall of famer then left Old Trafford after David Moyes’ failed first season and was later followed by Jonny Evans, Danny Welbeck, Javier Hernandez and Brazilian duo Rafael and Fabio Da Silva.
Ferdinand believes it was a mistake to let United’s academy members pass under Moyes and his successor Louis van Gaal.
“They were the lifeblood of Manchester United, they all went through the system, all the boys of Man United, and that was lost too,” Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel. Vibe with five.
Javier Hernandez moved to Bayer Leverkusen after Man United sold him
Fabio (right) and Rafael da Silva (left) were moved on by United in the years following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement
“It was part of what the club had been built on before, the people who would come through the academy were an integral part of everything Man United stood for.
“And they were getting rid of these players willy-nilly, I couldn’t believe the club even allowed it.
“What they did at Man United, they could have done for the rest of their careers.”
Welbeck was sold to Arsenal for £16million in 2014 after making 142 appearances in all competitions for the Red Devils, scoring 29 goals in the process.
He went on to score 32 strikes in 126 appearances for the Gunners before moving to Watford and is now plying his trade at Roberto de Zerbi’s Brighton.
Meanwhile, Hernandez spent a season on loan at Real Madrid before joining Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in a £12m deal, despite lacking first-team strikers at the club. ‘era.
The Da Silva brothers were also shipped off with Rafael joining Lyon and Fabio moving to Cardiff City.
Danny Welbeck (left) has been transferred to join Arsenal while Jonny Evans (right) is now at Leicester
Rio Ferdinand thinks Manchester United made a mistake by letting five players leave the club
Evans was perhaps the most high-profile name to leave United during a troubling time for the club as he joined West Brom on a permanent deal before moving to Leicester.
Ferdinand explained his surprise at the club’s decision to let Evans go and added that the Northern Irishman should have kept his place ahead of Chris Smalling.
‘He [Evans] should never have been allowed to leave the club. He was the club’s best centre-half when we all left.
“Smalling has had a great career, don’t get me wrong, but Jonny Evans is a better player, 100 per cent,” he added.
