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Rio Ferdinand has urged Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford to leave Manchester United in the hope of recapturing their smile.
The former United defender has cast a close eye over recent events at the club and in particular boss Ruben Amorim’s first two months at Old Trafford.
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The Portuguese was quick to stamp his authority on the squad by leaving both Rashford and Garnacho out of the squad for November’s 2-1 derby victory at Manchester City.
While Garnacho has since remained on the fringes of Amorim’s starting XI, Rashford has not featured at all in the Red Devils’ last nine games.
As a result, both Rashford and Garnacho have been strongly linked with January moves away from the club and Ferdinand believes the grass could prove to be greener for both players outside of Old Trafford.
The 2008 Champions League winner has pointed to ex-United stars Scott McTominay, Anthony Elanga and Jadon Sancho as proof of how escaping the doom and gloom of Manchester United can help reignite players’ careers.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that these players are better than what they are producing right now, “ Ferdinand told talkSPORT. “But when the shirt feels so heavy it’s difficult to get out of the trenches sometimes.
“It’s normally not one person who can get you out of these types of situations but where are those individuals you need? I don’t see enough of them at the moment.
“The worrying thing is that these players are leaving and looking like they are spreading their wings and breathing again.
“McTominay looks brilliant and look at Elanga at Nottingham Forest. Even Sancho looks like a different person at Chelsea.”
Ferdinand continued: “If I’m sitting there and advising Rashford right now I’m saying ‘just go’. You should look at McTominay and say that’s what I want to follow.
“He’s enjoying life, he's enjoying his football again. Marcus Rashford’s face tells you he hasn’t enjoyed football for the last three years.
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“I want to see these kids smiling, I love the young kids coming through and playing well.
“Garnacho is probably sitting there thinking, this is Man United. I don’t want to leave but (if I do) I might start enjoying myself a bit more.”
Asked whether Rashford’s time at Old Trafford was up, Ferdinand was emphatic in his response.
“Who in our time had three years grace?,” he asked talkSPORT Breakfast co-hosts Alan Brazil and Ally McCoist. “I don’t know anyone who hung around at a football club for three years when they were not doing well.
“I think for both parties it’s much better for them to separate.”
Ferdinand played down the enormity of Amorim’s comments in the aftermath of Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at home to Brighton.
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Following his seventh defeat since taking over as United boss, the former Sporting boss told reporters that his side are ‘the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United.’
His comments have since drawn criticism from some quarters however, Ferdinand believes there was an ulterior motive behind it.
“I think he’s just letting people know where they are at,” Ferdinand said. “Don’t start expecting miracles and quick change.
“I think he’s a highly intelligent guy. He did a fantastic job at his previous club but we all said it’s not the Premier League and it's not Man United – It’s a different beast.
“I don’t think he realised the enormity of his job when he walked in. I think he would have been taken aback by the level of players and also how low the confidence is."
