Manchester United legend-turned-pundit Rio Ferdinand believes the Red Devils made the mistake to offload both Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck under the tutelage of former manager Louis van Gaal. The United graduates were influential during Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season in charge between 2012 and 2013 where the club won the Premier League crown but they thereafter lasted for just one more season before Van Gaal axed them from the squad.

Both Cleverley and Welbeck had a forgettable season under David Moyes after the Ferguson era and upon the arrival of Van Gaal, they managed to last for only a couple of weeks before they were deemed surplus to requirements. Whilst Welbeck made the switch to Arsenal in a deal worth £16m, Cleverley was shipped to Aston Villa on a season-long loan after which he joined Everton on a free transfer.
"I’m fairly confident the likes of Clevs & Welbs who came through the Manchester United system would have been at the club longer if SAF had stayed as manager. [They] were vital members of the squad that loved the club & know the DNA!,” Ferdinand tweeted in response to the BT Sport interview with Cleverley earlier on Saturday.

“Cleverley has not featured for Watford since the start of the season with a long-term Achilles injury and “ he was only a spectator from the pundits’ box during the Hornets’ encounter against United this weekend.“ Javi Garcia’s side were “aiming to maintain their 100 percent start to the new campaign but they could not make it happen after succumbing to a 2-1 defeat to Jose Mourinho’s side.

United were the better team during the first half with goals from Romelu Lukaku and Chris Smalling but they went on the defensive following the interval which enabled Andre Gray to find the scoresheet. However, they could not find the equaliser for the remainder of the game with goalkeeper David de Gea making a couple of splendid saves once more.