Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has asked the club captain Harry Maguire to seek a move out of Old Trafford after falling out of favour with manager Erik ten Hag.
The England defender has fallen down the pecking order at United, with even left-back Luke Shaw preferred over him at the back.
Ferdinand, who made over 450 appearances as a defender for the Red Devils, thinks that such a move by Ten Hag is disrespectful towards Maguire, who remains team captain despite not starting games. He has urged the 29-year-old to look for a move away from the club.
Speaking on his Vibe with Five YouTube channel, Ferdinand said: ‘Luke Shaw’s playing centre-back instead of him.
“That’s like me going back after the World Cup, playing well, everyone saying he’s done really well, and Patrice Evra is playing centre-back.
“I’d want to strangle Patrice! I would’ve smashed Patrice in training to make sure he’s not available, and I’d be going to the manager and saying, ‘are you taking the piss out of me, boss?’. I’d have walked straight into the manager’s office and said, ‘you’re disrespecting me’.
“Harry Maguire’s got to move. I think he stays because of the games, and they can’t get someone else in. He plays in the cup games.”
Despite not being the first choice at United, Maguire played a starring role for England at the just concluded World Cup in Qatar. The defender produced a run of impressive performances during the tournament.
He was expected to return to the starting XI at Old Trafford upon returning from the World Cup. However, his impressive performances in the Middle East has not done enough to change the thinking of Ten Hag, who prefers playing left-back Shaw in central defence while Maguire instead is left on the bench.
The 29-year-old joined Man United in 2019 on a six-year contract worth £80million, a deal that made him the most expensive defender then. He has been linked with a move eto Aston Villa, although that rumor has been squashed.
