Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand thinks the club have made a mistake by not bringing in Tottenham Hotspur’s Toby Alderweireld this summer. The ex-centre back, who left United in 2013 and retired one year later wasn’t alone in expecting the Belgian centre back to make the move to Old Trafford during the transfer window, but
“I was in favour of bringing Toby Alderweireld from Spurs,” said Ferdinand on BT Sport in quotes carried by the Manchester Evening News. “When playing regularly, I think he’s within the top two or three centre-halves in the country, in this league.
“I think he’s a fantastic player, he proved it again at the World Cup after not playing so many games last season. I thought he was a definite, he would have been my go-to choice to be honest.”
Ferdinand also offered his opinion on Harry Maguire, another of United’s targets this summer.
“Maguire had a fantastic tournament in Russia. I just think for his development another season at Leicester, honing his craft within the Premier League, would be best for him from a personal standpoint for him.”
Reports after the transfer window closed seemed to the suggest that the club and Mourinho did not agree on the Portuguese’s centre back targets, especially as the prices involved for the likes of Alderweireld and Maguire were either too dear due to the Belgian’s age or too much for the Englishman’s ability. Still, Mourinho still has five senior centre backs at this disposal as this new season kicks off; Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly began the campaign against Leicester City, with Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo able to provide cover if required. Time will tell if the club’s hesitancy to bring in Alderweireld or Maguire will backfire, but for the time being, Mourinho must move on.
