Published
on August 10, 2022
Rio Ferdinand has said that Manchester United’s signing of Adrien Rabiot from Juventus would be a risk.
Following their 2-1 defeat in the hands of Brighton on Sunday, Manchester United enhanced their search for midfielders as Fred and Scott McTominay clearly showed they cannot do the job
Both players were heavily criticised for Manchester United’s shocking 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford to Brighton in the opening weekend of the Premier League.
And again Erik ten Hag appears to have finally accepted defeat in his quest to bring in Frankie de Jong from Barcelona as the midfielder is poised on remaining at Nou Camp.
The Red Devils are now looking to secure a £15million deal for Juventus midfielder, Rabiot instead.
Speaking on his FIVE YouTube channel on Tuesday, Ferdinand said of the move: “The position Man United probably see playing him is one of the holding players, or an eight. My biggest concern with that is that, if he’s going to be an eight, he doesn’t score enough goals.
“I think McTominay has got more goals over the last couple of seasons than him and he doesn’t get enough either.
“Rabiot is obviously the second, third or fourth option. They’ve been waiting for the Frenkie de Jong situation to change and it hasn’t so this is a reactive signing.
“I think it will be a risk. I don’t see the fee being much more than £20million, in today’s market, it’s cheap considering.
“But at the same time, the biggest concern is: is he right for Manchester United? Is he going to make us a team that’s going to challenge stronger for Champions League positions? I don’t know.”
United’s Dutch boss had made De Jong his priority signing this summer but the midfielder had insisted on remaining in Barcelona despite the Catalans agreeing a deal with the Red Devils at some point.
Chelsea are also in the race to sign the Netherlands international who would only want to join a club in the Champions League this season if he finally decides to leave Barcelona.
But the former Ajax man has made it clear that he wants to remain in Barcelona with his girlfriend and has reportedly accepted a pay cut in order to remain at the club.
