- Ferdinand left the club along with his partner Nemanja Vidic in 2014.
- He singled out two players who should have remained at the club after his departure
- Erik ten Hag is DECEIVED. I don’t think anyone can imagine he’ll be around at the end of the season. everything is beginning podcast
Rio Ferdinand has revealed two players he believes Manchester United made the mistake of selling.
United’s mixed season continued at the weekend, when they lost the Manchester derby to rivals City, despite leading from the start and not falling behind until 10 minutes from time.
They sit sixth in the Premier League table and 11 points off a Champions League place, and it is unclear what the future holds for the Red Devils following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment.
The club has been through some tough times in recent years, and this season has felt like a transitional campaign as the team deals with a number of injuries, especially in defence.
And that is the area of the team in which Ferdinand, speaking in FIVEhe noted, highlighting two players he believes his former team should not have sold.
Rio Ferdinand has revealed two players he believes should never have left Manchester United
United have struggled to find players to play regularly in their defense since Ferdinand left the club along with Nemanja Vidic (not pictured).
The former defender said Chris Smalling (left) and Jonny Evans (right) were United’s best defenders at the time of his departure.
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“I’ve said this many times, it was a travesty that Jonny Evans was sold,” Ferdinand said. “He should never have been allowed to leave.
“He was the best defender, the best centre-back, when I left. When (Nemanja) Vidic and I walked out the door, the experience, the veterans, we were gone, he was the best defender you have. I just couldn’t believe that allowed him to leave.
‘Him and Chris Smalling, to be fair. I don’t think they should have been allowed to leave, I thought they knew the structure of the club. You need those guys.’
Ferdinand and Vidic (left), formerly one of United’s best defensive partnerships in the club’s history.
Ferdinand left United in 2014 and joined QPR before ending his career a year later. Vidic, who played 197 times alongside Ferdinand, left that same summer, forcing the Red Devils to reorganize their defence.
Meanwhile, Evans left in 2015 and Smalling left for Roma permanently in 2020 after a year on loan with the Italian team.
United conceded six fewer goals in the league the year after the departure of Ferdinand and Vidic, but have since sought a defensive partnership to propel them forward.
Smalling spent 10 years at United before joining Roma on a permanent deal in the summer of 2020.
Meanwhile, Evans has rejoined the club after spells at West Brom and Leicester.
Players such as Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly arrived for considerable sums, but they did not work out, and a record sum was paid for Harry Maguire, now a squad player and former club captain.
Evans has since returned, replacing Lisandro Martínez, who United hope will be a long-term answer on the left side of their back four.
On the right, however, Raphael Varane has been in and out of the team and the club is likely to spend again to improve the position in the summer.
