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Gary Neville says Manchester United should ‘never’ have sold Danny Welbeck – but fellow Old Trafford legend Roy Keane disagrees.
Welbeck made 142 appearances for the Premier League giants after coming through the club’s academy and was a part of the last United team to win the title under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The England international decided to leave in 2014 after growing frustrated with his lack of game-time and joined Arsenal in a deal worth £16m.
Welbeck largely underwhelmed at the Emirates Stadium and was released by Arsenal in 2019 after scoring 32 goals in 126 appearances for the Gunners.
Another lacklustre season at Watford followed before Welbeck joined Brighton in 2020 where he has enjoyed four superb campaigns, chipping in with crucial goals while impressing with his all-round play.
Despite turning 34 next month, Welbeck is arguably in the best form of his career, having scored four goals in seven Premier League games this season.
Manchester United, by contrast, are struggling in front of goal and Neville believes it was a mistake for his former club to sell Welbeck a decade ago.
Erik ten Hag’s side have scored just five goals in seven games this term, a dismal run of form leaving United 14th in the Premier League table during the international break.
Reflecting on Welbeck’s superb start to the 2024-25 campaign, Keane joked on Stick to Football with Sky Bet: ‘Could he go back to United maybe?’
Neville replied: ‘He’s in better form than any of the United front players, by far. Danny Welbeck, to be fair, should never have been let go at United.’
But ex-Manchester United captain Keane then made his feelings clear on Welbeck’s departure, adding: ‘Oh, I don’t know about that Gary, we can’t keep saying that about players just because he left.’
Neville then said: ‘Roy, if you’ve got a squad of 24, 23, and you want to keep five or six strikers, he’s got to be one of those. You’ve got to keep him.’
Before Keane responded: ‘Sometimes a player leaves and has a really good career, it doesn’t mean to say they were good enough for Manchester United.’
Welbeck’s former United team-mate Wayne Rooney was also on the show and discussed the striker’s strengths.
‘I think one of his biggest strengths was winning the ball back high up the pitch,’ Rooney said. ‘He was aggressive, you’d go and press and he’d win it back high up the pitch.
‘His touch was good and we had a real good connection. He was bright, he was clever with the ball, he was good to play with, he was quick.’
Welbeck helped Brighton beat Manchester United earlier in the season and after the clash on the south coast, Rio Ferdinand also expressed his shock at his departure from Old Trafford.
‘Nothing surprises me with Danny Welbeck,’ the Old Trafford legend said when asked about his former team-mate’s credentials.
‘I watched him as a young kid at Manchester United and he was a wonderful player.
‘I couldn’t believe it when United agreed to let him go because I thought he had so much value, not only as a player but just around the place as well as a former academy player.
‘I think he’s someone who players who have played against him respect more than some fans who don’t quite realise how difficult he is to play against. He’s a great professional too.’
The Brighton defeat was one of five United have suffered in the Premier League this season, the club’s worst start to a campaign leaving them just five points above the relegation zone.
Manchester United will be desperate to return to winning ways on Saturday when Brentford visit Old Trafford, before the Red Devils face Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in the Europa League.
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