Gary Neville says Manchester United ought to ‘by no means’ have bought Danny Welbeck – however fellow Outdated Trafford legend Roy Keane disagrees.
Welbeck made 142 appearances for the Premier League giants after coming by way of the membership’s academy and was part of the final United workforce to win the title below Sir Alex Ferguson.
The England worldwide determined to go away in 2014 after rising annoyed together with his lack of game-time and joined Arsenal in a deal price £16m.
Welbeck largely underwhelmed on the Emirates Stadium and was launched by Arsenal in 2019 after scoring 32 objectives in 126 appearances for the Gunners.
One other lacklustre season at Watford adopted earlier than Welbeck joined Brighton in 2020 the place he has loved 4 very good campaigns, chipping in with essential objectives whereas impressing together with his all-round play.
Regardless of turning 34 subsequent month, Welbeck is arguably in the most effective type of his profession, having scored 4 objectives in seven Premier League video games this season.
Manchester United, in contrast, are struggling in entrance of purpose and Neville believes it was a mistake for his former membership to promote Welbeck a decade in the past.
Erik ten Hag’s facet have scored simply 5 objectives in seven video games this time period, a dismal run of type leaving United 14th within the Premier League desk throughout the worldwide break.
Reflecting on Welbeck’s very good begin to the 2024-25 marketing campaign, Keane joked on Follow Soccer with Sky Guess: ‘May he return to United possibly?’
Neville replied: ‘He’s in higher type than any of the United entrance gamers, by far. Danny Welbeck, to be honest, ought to by no means have been let go at United.’
However ex-Manchester United captain Keane then made his emotions clear on Welbeck’s departure, including: ‘Oh, I don’t find out about that Gary, we will’t preserve saying that about gamers simply because he left.’
Neville then stated: ‘Roy, in the event you’ve bought a squad of 24, 23, and also you wish to preserve 5 – 6 strikers, he’s bought to be a kind of. You’ve bought to maintain him.’
Earlier than Keane responded: ‘Generally a participant leaves and has a extremely good profession, it doesn’t imply to say they had been ok for Manchester United.’
Welbeck’s former United team-mate Wayne Rooney was additionally on the present and mentioned the striker’s strengths.
‘I feel one in all his largest strengths was successful the ball again excessive up the pitch,’ Rooney stated. ‘He was aggressive, you’d go and press and he’d win it again excessive up the pitch.
‘His contact was good and we had an actual good connection. He was vivid, he was intelligent with the ball, he was good to play with, he was fast.’
Welbeck helped Brighton beat Manchester United earlier within the season and after the conflict on the south coast, Rio Ferdinand additionally expressed his shock at his departure from Outdated Trafford.
‘Nothing surprises me with Danny Welbeck,’ the Outdated Trafford legend stated when requested about his former team-mate’s credentials.
‘I watched him as a younger child at Manchester United and he was a beautiful participant.
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‘I couldn’t imagine it when United agreed to let him go as a result of I assumed he had a lot worth, not solely as a participant however simply across the place in addition to a former academy participant.
‘I feel he’s somebody who gamers who’ve performed in opposition to him respect greater than some followers who don’t fairly realise how tough he’s to play in opposition to. He’s an ideal skilled too.’
The Brighton defeat was one in all 5 United have suffered within the Premier League this season, the membership’s worst begin to a marketing campaign leaving them simply 5 factors above the relegation zone.
Manchester United will likely be determined to return to successful methods on Saturday when Brentford go to Outdated Trafford, earlier than the Crimson Devils face Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce within the Europa League.
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