Gary Neville believes Manchester United made a mistake by selling a player who is now tearing apart defenses, arguing that the club parted ways with him too soon.
Manchester United has made several questionable transfer decisions since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure. Players who left Old Trafford, like Angel Gomes, often found success elsewhere, with Gomes flourishing in France. Recently, Antony’s loan at Real Betis in Spain has impressed, especially his standout performance against Gent.
The list of players thriving after leaving United is long, with Ruben Amorim offering insights into why this happens. However, there’s one player who could have strengthened a problematic position at United. A 2014 deal now seems like a poor decision that the club likely regrets.
Gary Neville believes Manchester United made a mistake letting Danny Welbeck go, especially after his two-assist performance in Brighton’s 3-0 win over Chelsea. Neville commented on Sky Sports, saying Welbeck was let go too quickly under Louis van Gaal’s tenure, as he didn’t fit the precise style of play at that time.
Neville emphasized that Welbeck’s style would have been a good match for United’s play, with his ability to threaten space and support attacking players. He firmly disagrees with the notion that Welbeck wasn’t good enough for Manchester United, stating that he could easily be part of a top squad and still perform at the highest level. Welbeck has been excellent, even tearing apart defenders like Colwill and Chalobah.
Welbeck was sold in 2014 for £16m, paving the way for Radamel Falcao’s loan arrival, a move emblematic of the club’s transfer policy in recent years. Since leaving, the United academy graduate has been impressive, scoring six goals and providing one assist in 17 matches against his former club.
Welbeck was linked with a return to Old Trafford under Erik ten Hag, and Neville believes he would have been a valuable squad player for United over the years. It’s a real shame that Welbeck was sold to make room for Falcao’s loan.
