Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has criticised the club’s recent transfer business and has cited the arrival of Jonny Evans as a prime example.
Evans, 36, re-joined the Red Devils on a free transfer when his contract at Leicester City expired last summer and was forced to play a significant role during the second-half of the season due to a defensive injury crisis at Old Trafford.
The Northern Irishman racked up 29 appearances in all competitions, despite starting the season as fifth choice, and he was recently forced to partner Casemiro at centre-back in a makeshift pairing.
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What has Rio Ferdinand said?
“Jonny Evans, really, no disrespect – I love him – but really he shouldn’t even be there,” Ferdinand told his Vibe with Five podcast (via Metro).
“Really, if you’re looking at Man Utd being a progressive club [he shouldn’t be there]. But he’s come in and probably been their best centre-back this season. And now you’ve got Casemiro playing there, just filling gaps, and respect to him for doing that, to put himself out there to do it.
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“We’ve got players going on free transfers who have cost us a fortune in wages and transfer fees.
“And we’ve got players still sitting there with one year left on their deals who are going to probably just see them out and we’ll get nothing for them.
“I can’t remember off the top of my head, but there’s about six or seven players who have one year left on their deals and are going to just sit there and smoke it up, chill. The recruitment in and out has been poor.”
Anthony Martial, Tom Heaton, Raphael Varane and Evans will all leave on free transfers this summer, while Amad Diallo, Christian Eriksen, Scott McTominay, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Willy Kambwala, Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire are all out of contract in 2025.
Ferdinand continued: “We can’t get rid of players, do you know why? Because on the way in they get given astronomical contracts that are above market value and that no-one else will pay if it goes wrong. So they sit there.
“Harry Maguire is a good example. West Ham wanted him, they’re willing to pay him half what he was earning at Manchester United, but Harry Maguire [says no]. I’d be the same. What do you mean go and get half? And uproot my family? No thanks.”
Man Utd finished eighth in the Premier League table and must win the FA Cup final against Manchester City in order to secure European football.
