Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand know a lot about winning things at Manchester United. The pair were key parts in Sir Alex Ferguson’s most successful sides, with the former winning the famous 1999 treble and the latter an integral cog in United’s next Champions League triumph in 2008. Both won numerous Premier League titles during their time at the club, and it’s fair to say that neither are particularly happy with the way things have gone since the Scot’s retirement in 2013.
Both men are clearly keen to see United get back on top of the footballing pile as soon as possible, and there seems to be agreement on a player who could help the club scale those domestic and European heights again. Gareth Bale has clearly stated his intentions to consider his future should be fail to command a starting place at Real Madrid, and Neville and Ferdinand concur that the Welshman is a player worth pursuing.
“I’ve got a lot of admiration for him as a player,” Neville is quoted in comments given to BBC Radio Manchester carried by Metro. “I’d like to see Messi play for United or Ronaldo or Neymar or all these players, but the reality is they’ve got to want to come to the club. That’s the first question that needs to be asked. If he wants to come to United then absolutely, yes, because he’s a fantastic player and he is a game-changer. For me every top club is looking for that player who is the difference, who can turn the big games.”
Neville’s former teammate Rio Ferdinand echoed his sentiments: “It’s up to him to decide what he wants. Does he want to go somewhere and be the main man, take on the full responsibility of a club who want to win? Or does he want to remain and continue in the role he is in now, as the supporting cast?”
