Rio Ferdinand has urged Michael Carrick to prevent Marcus Rashford from leaving this summer, insisting the Manchester United winger looks like a ‘purring Ferrari’ in pre-season training.
Rashford still faces somewhat of an uncertain future after his return to United from his season-long loan at Barcelona.
The 28-year-old had made no bones about his desire to extend his stay at the club, but the Catalan giants instead decided to pursue a deal for Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon.
After a break following the World Cup, Rashford has now joined up with the Red Devils’ pre-season training and could feature in their friendly against Leeds United on Wednesday.
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And while an exit from the club for a fee of around £40million is still being touted, Ferdinand wants to see Rashford reintegrated back into the first-team squad.
‘Rashford is back at Manchester United at the training ground and guys, he’s like a purring Ferrari man,’ he said on his YouTube channel.
‘He looks fit, he looks ready. And you know what, there’s a smile on his face and there’s a little spring in his step.
‘We don’t know which way this is going to go and how it’s going to pan out by the end of this transfer window. But you know what, I hope he stays and he will be like a new signing at the football club.
‘And could this be the motivated Marcus Rashford to come out and prove all the doubters and all the people wrong? And all the naysayers.
I hope it is. Let’s watch this space.’
Elsewhere, Ferdinand urged United to pull out all the stops to try and sign Myles Lewis-Skelly after reports indicated that the versatile Arsenal teenager had been offered to the Red Devils.
‘If I’m Manchester United right now I say press the green button and buy him, take him, right now,’ Ferdinand added.
‘What a player, a top player. He was a massive part of the team when he was brought in towards the end of the season. He contributed to Arsenal winning the league, he was brilliant and came in and produced.
‘If he’s on the market and he’s a good price you have to take him. The good price I’m saying is £60m or £70m.
‘If that’s the case, get the chequebook out, slap it down and sign him. No questions asked, I would take him.
‘He’s young, a huge talent, can play in two positions and I think mentally he’s made of the right stuff.
‘The left-back position at Manchester United is not a problem because we’ve got Luke Shaw who played a lot of games last season and stayed fit.
‘But if he does get injured we haven’t got a natural left-back sitting there. [Patrick] Dorgu is more of a left-winger now and [Noussair] Mazraoui and [Diogo] Dalot aren’t full left-backs.
‘So that’s an area I think you can bring in someone like Myles Lewis-Skelly and he can play man, definitely.’
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