‘He looked like primetime Danny Welbeck at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid’
Rio Ferdinand has suggested he ‘would have taken’ Danny Welbeck at Manchester United this summer after the Brighton and Hove Albion forward’s impressive performance at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Graham Potter’s side defeated United 2-1 in Erik ten Hag’s first league game in charge, with former Red Devils attacker Welbeck assisting Pascal Gross for his first goal.
The 31-year-old started his career at United and scored 29 goals in 142 games for the club from 2008-2014. After leaving Old Trafford, Welbeck played for Arsenal and Watford before joining Brighton.
Ferdinand says Welbeck would’ve started for United on Sunday
Should the Red Devils have been interested in securing a deal to bring the frontman back to the club, he would have been available on a free transfer over the summer before he signed a contract extension in June.
“Danny Welbeck would have started today for Man United,” Ferdinand said on his Vibe with Five podcast.
“Welbeck walked out of that tunnel, shoulders back, chest out, and you could see he was thinking he would terrorise that team. That’s how he played today.
“He looked like primetime Danny Welbeck at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid.”
Welbeck scored an important goal in United’s 1-1 draw with Madrid in 2013 – becoming the first Englishman to score for a Premier League side at the Bernabeu since 2001.
Where do Man United find 24 goals if they let @Cristiano go??!
TELL ME!
VIBE with FIVE IS BACK 🔥https://t.co/vTgvMiaqno pic.twitter.com/DPizhaeZ2R
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) August 8, 2022
When asked if he would have taken Welbeck at United this season, Ferdinand replied: “On today’s performance, no doubt. If you wanted a back-up striker you wouldn’t go wrong with Danny Welbeck
“You tell him he’ll play 15-20 games across the season, fill in for Cristiano [Ronaldo], give us the legs and give us the movement.
“He can get in behind and creates the space for the likes of Bruno [Fernandes].”
Ten Hag started Christian Eriksen as a makeshift number nine on Sunday, with Anthony Martial currently out injured and Ronaldo dropped to the bench after missing the majority of the club’s pre-season.
Related links:
- Rio Ferdinand refuses to sign Liverpool shirt after fan asks him at Craven Cottage
- Roy Keane questions Man United’s leadership after latest transfer link
- Dean Henderson calls Man United treatment ‘criminal’ in scathing assessment of club
