Rio Ferdinand has named the player who he believes is Manchester United’s one that got away – and suggested that Thomas Tuchel should take him to the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Man United under Ruben Amorim are in the midst of an uptick of form, having won their last three matches and risen into the top four of the Premier League table.
But former Red Devil Ferdinand has suggested that despite this purple patch, the Manchester side would still benefit from addition of one of their own, who now features elsewhere in the division.
The former defender was adamant that Brighton star Danny Welbeck would still be able to perform under Amorim – with Man United reminded of his talent when the 34-year-old scored against them in their 4-2 victory over the Seagulls last Saturday.
‘It was a balls up that they actually let him leave the club,’ Ferdinand said on his podcast Rio Ferdinand Presents, before suggesting that he could do a job at international level too.
‘If you’re talking form, and if the squad was picked right tomorrow, Danny Welbeck has to go, no?’ he added.
On what he would add to the Man United set up, Ferdinand continued, stressing: ‘Experience, can do different things on the pitch for you, Manchester boy, loves the club, a great kid, never a day’s trouble at the football club, got a nice way about him, great family.
‘What are you selling him for?’
Ferdinand is not the first Old Trafford legend to have suggested that the forward, who played for the side between 2008 and 2014, could have returned to open arms, with Wayne Rooney making a similar point as Amorim’s side hunted desperately for goals last season.
Gary Neville was similarly convinced during the 2024-25 campaign, sharing that he believed the striker was ‘let go too quickly at United’.
Welbeck scored 11 times and contributed a further four assists during his 36 appearances across all competitions for the south coast club last season, and has shown no signs of slowing this season.
In just 10 appearances, the former Watford star has scored five goals, and added another assist to his tally.
This, Ferdinand suggested, puts him ahead of names like Dominic Solanke and Ivan Toney in terms of second strikers Tuchel could consider for next year’s tournament.
‘Form-wise he’s above all of them, for me,’ Ferdinand added.
But there was a question-mark looming over Ferdinand’s assessment Toney, who has been starring in Saudi Arabia since the start of last season, with the former England international praising his confidence but admitting he still saw some shortcomings.
‘There’s something about Ivan Toney that I just feel, for England, he’s got that little bit of a swagger, that “give me the ball”,’ Ferdinand said.
‘If there’s a big moment that comes up, I don’t know if he’s going to fluff that chance. I think he’s got the arrogance to go, “give it to me, why are you cutting it back to Harry (Kane), cut it back to me” vibes.
‘And you need that, in them big moments.’
