TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand is convinced that England manager Gareth Southgate will not select one Manchester United star for his Euro 2024 squad.
England punched their ticket to Euro 2024 after the Three Lions finished top of Group C in the qualifiers ahead of defending champions Italy.
Gareth Southgate is out of contract with England in December and his future with the Three Lions remains uncertain ahead of the tournament in Germany.
The Three Lions boss fell short of capturing major silverware at Euro 2020 after England suffered defeat to Italy in the final on penalties at Wembley.
England are in Group C for Euro 2024 and will face Slovenia, Denmark and Serbia in their campaign under Southgate this summer.
Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire could be among the Manchester United players called up to the England squad for Euro 2024.
But Rio Ferdinand, who recently suggested two candidates the English FA should consider as Southgate’s successor, believes one United star will be snubbed.
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Ferdinand on Southgate and England
Rio Ferdinand is not sold that Gareth Southgate will call up Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo for his England squad for Euro 2024 in Germany.
Mainoo has had a remarkable breakthrough season at Old Trafford and established himself as a first-team regular under United manager Erik ten Hag.
The 18-year-old Stockport-born midfielder has represented England at youth level, but Mainoo remains uncapped at senior level for the Three Lions.
Mainoo is also eligible to represent Ghana on the international stage, with the country’s FA monitoring his progress at United.
When asked if Mainoo could make the England squad for Euro 2024, Ferdinand said on his VIBE with FIVE show: “No. Southgate ain’t bringing my man.
“Southgate was in Ajax, he was watching [Jordan] Henderson. He was at Ajax.
“I’ve got some mad stats. You’ve asked if Mainoo will have a chance of going to the Euros this year and obviously the England manager was in Holland watching Ajax watching Jordan Henderson play.
“But if you look at it, the other games that went on this weekend when the England manager was in Holland: there were 18 English players featuring in the Newcastle-Luton game. There were 12 in the Everton-Spurs game. There were 10 in the Brighton-Palace game and five in the Burnley-Fulham game. And then 12 in the Sheffield United-Aston Villa game. And there was one in Holland.
“When you put it like that, it’s mad, isn’t it, it’s crazy. Does the manager really need to look at Henderson? ‘Are you fit or not? Yeah? You’re coming.’ That’s it. That’s all it’s got to be, that’s what it’s about. I’d take him.”
Ferdinand raves about Mainoo
Ferdinand is among the United legends who have been impressed with Mainoo, with the ex-Red Devils star even comparing him to AC Milan legend Clarence Seedorf.
“You can talk about who he looks similar to,” he said on his YouTube channel.
“I think he plays similar to someone like Seedorf, that’s who I look at in his game.
“I’m not saying he’s as good as any of them, or he’s going to be as good as them, but [I see similarities].
“If Mainoo gets anywhere near someone like Seedorf, he will be thanking the lord saying, ‘Thank you very much for this career.’ Seedorf is one of the most undervalued and underappreciated footballers on the planet.
“But you’re OK to say he gives vibes like Seedorf. Look at the goal he scored [against Wolves], that was twinkle toes, light-on-your-feet Seedorf.
“Balance, bit of strength, he looked like him the way he moved and the way he gets out of tight situations off both feet.
“You can say he looks like him a little bit. But he ain’t him, he ain’t at that level yet. He’s got a long way to go but he’s giving those vibes.”
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/QCumh29