Manchester United are enjoying their best run since Ruben Amorim took over as manager 12 months ago, but Rio Ferdinand has revealed who he believes is crucial to their recent turnaround.
Rio Ferdinand has heaped praise on Manchester United’s in-form forward Brian Mbeumo, branding the £71m star a “joke”.
The Cameroon international, signed from Brentford in the summer, has featured for United since his big-money move to Old Trafford and has emerged as the biggest goal threat in Reuben Amorim’s expensive new attack. Benjamin Sesko has taken time to settle in, Matheus Cunha has impressed with his all-round play and work ethic, while Mbeumo has scored six goals and provided one assist in his opening 12 games. He was named the Premier League’s Player of the Month for October, at which point United were unbeaten in five games in all competitions.
Former United defender Ferdinand was asked on his YouTube podcast to name the club’s most important player at the moment and was quick to highlight how impressed he is with the 26-year-old.
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“Mbeumo was a joke,” Ferdinand said. “He’s really stepped in there and become a mainstay. He’s a player who can give you two or three seconds on the ball to relieve pressure. He can score important goals and create chances.”
“I saw Thomas Frank comment about him the other day, and Mbeumo is almost a perfect winger.
“I think by the end of this season he will be one of the most complete wingers in the Premier League because he can do it all. He just has to do it consistently in a United shirt.”
It wasn’t just Mbeumo that Ferdinand praised, with both Matthijs de Ligt and new goalkeeper Senne Ramens impressing the former England centre-back.
“You can’t say who is the most important player without mentioning the goalkeeper,” Ferdinand added. “It’s no coincidence that we’ve turned around. We have a goalie that all the players seem to trust.”
On the subject of De Ligt, who was at United last season but has had constant issues with form and fitness this season and has played every minute so far, Ferdinand added: “I think Matthijs de Ligt is our best defender this season and he’s been outstanding for us.”
“He’s been scoring more goals – a last-minute goal the other day (against Tottenham).
“His pressing, aggressiveness and willingness to get up to foreign areas of the pitch and defend at the right time was great. His clearances from the box were great.”
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