Rio Ferdinand backs Garnacho over controversial Man Utd exit as he urges Kobbie Mainoo ‘don’t waste your career’

RIO FERDINAND has expressed sympathy for Alejandro Garnacho’s decision to leave Manchester United for Chelsea.

The legendary United defender appeared to draw a parallel between the Argentine’s former situation and Kobbie Mainoo‘s ongoing struggles at Old Trafford.

Garnacho caused quite the stir with United fans ahead of Chelsea’s 2-1 Champions League defeat to Serie A side Atalanta on Tuesday.

Speaking at Chelsea’s pre-match press conference, Garnacho insisted that the Blues were the “right club” for him, the move was “an easy decision” and he has “no regrets”.

The next morning, Ferdinand agreed with Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt’s assessment of Mainoo’s lack of playing time at United on his podcast.

Scholes said that Mainoo should quit his boyhood club after being treated like a surplus to requirements by manager Ruben Amorim. 

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After telling Mainoo to “not waste his career”, Ferdinand was quickly drawn to Garnacho’s struggles with Amorim.

The six-time Premier League winner said on Rio Ferdinand Presents: “Can we just forward to Garnacho? Because we got him on air.

“Garnacho, he’s interviewed the other day. It was in the press conference, wasn’t it?

“And he said that it was an easy decision to leave United, the manager trusts me here. And there will be fans at United who go, ‘You cheeky little, you’re…’

“But as a footballer, take your Man United hat off. If you feel the manager doesn’t trust you, I’ve been there with England.

“At the beginning, I didn’t know if [Fabio] Capello trusts me. You ain’t getting my best performances. Do you know what I mean?

“No, Steve McLaren fully trusted me to… And I don’t know if they did or not, but I got a feeling. So, once you feel that feeling, I can’t get away from England.”

Garnacho left for £40million at the end of the transfer window after being banished to the United bomb squad by Amorim.

He agreed a deal with Chelsea until 2032 and has made 15 appearances across all competitions for Enzo Maresca’s side this season. 

Ferdinand claimed that he could see why Garnacho decided to quit the Red Devils after his relationship with Amorim broke down last season.

The former defender said: “I can’t change and go and play for Scotland, Ireland, Wales or wherever,” he continued.

“I’m staying with England because you can’t change that badge.”

“But at club level, I’m certain if the manager don’t trust me, I’m sitting there going, ‘Well, we both shouldn’t really be around each other because it’s going to blow up and you’re not going to get best out of me and you’re not obviously getting what you want.’

If I think about it and put myself in Kobbie Mainoo’s shoes I’m out of there, I’ve got to

Ferdinand

“So, you’ve got to go and Garnacho has made a decision that was best for him. And I think sometimes you’ve got to do that as well.”

Amorim has not said that he doesn’t trust Mainoo, but the academy graduate is clearly so far down the pecking order after breaking through under Erik ten Hag.

Mainoo got 12 minutes off the bench in the 4-1 win at Wolves on Monday night but is yet to start a Premier League game this season.

Ferdinand earlier said: “If I think about it and put myself in Kobbie Mainoo’s shoes I’m out of there, I’ve got to.

“He has just wasted 18 months of his career now at Manchester United.

“He’s probably been there six months longer than he should’ve been. He should’ve just gone and I think his agent and more importantly his family around him have to protect him.

“If I was him I’d say, ‘the manager isn’t going to start playing me now. If you’ve not played me in all these matches that have gone before you aren’t going to play me now.

“Let’s just be honest with each other I’m surplus to requirements. Get me out of here’.”