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Rio Ferdinand gives Man United a reality check over £100m target

Rio Ferdinand
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Signing Declan Rice or any other superstar won’t solve Manchester United’s problems, according to Rio Ferdinand.

The West Ham midfielder is a reported transfer target for the club and impressed at Old Trafford last Saturday. He even admitted he enjoys playing at the venue, despite his side losing 1-0.

Furthermore, Rice’s performances this season have prompted calls for United to sign him. But West Ham rate the 23-year-old highly and could reportedly hold out for a £100million (€120m) transfer fee.

Ferdinand points out the real problem

Speaking on his ‘Vibe With FIVE’ show, Ferdinand said Man United’s priority should be to establish an identity with their football instead of chasing after superstars.

“I don’t think it matters what individuals Man United bring in,” said the former Red Devils defender.

“It’s been proven over a long period of time now that you can bring in your superstars and think this is a saving grace etc.

“It’s about the way the team is built, and the way the tactics are implemented. I think you need a style of football, you need tactics put in place, and an identity put in place, which we’ve been calling for ages, that the players can all identify with, and then you go forward with it.

“Until that point, it’s just playing off the cuff, you’re just thinking ‘oh he’s going to win you a game’.

“Bruno [Fernandes] has done it for the last couple of years. When Bruno shows up and produces a moment it’s ‘oh we’ve won the game’. That’s not down to tactics, it wasn’t down to structure, it wasn’t down to an identity or philosophy, it was down to individual brilliance.

“The best teams on the planet don’t win things through individuals. They win it because the team plays the best, but they might have an individual within that is able to produce the magic here or there.

“Until that system is put in place, I don’t care who we sign.”

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