Harry Maguire has been encouraged to leave Manchester United by Rio Ferdinand because he feels Erik ten Hag has treated him disrespectfully after the World Cup.
This season, the England international has made just six starts in all competitions, including just one out of every five games since making his comeback from the World Cup.
Instead, Ten Hag has chosen to play left-back Luke Shaw outside of his position in the center of defense amid rumors that Maguire is drawing attention from Aston Villa for a transfer.
Ferdinand expects the limited opportunities to continue, thus he thinks Maguire’s top aim in the mid-season window should be an escape.
“If you’re [Maguire], you have to leave now. Luke Shaw’s playing centre-back instead of him,” Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel, Vibe With Five.
“That’s like me going back after the World Cup, playing well, everyone saying he’s done really well, and Patrice Evra is playing centre-back.
“I’d want to strangle Patrice! I would’ve smashed Patrice in training to make sure he’s not available, and I’d be going to the manager and saying, ‘are you taking the p*** out of me, boss?’.
“I’d have walked straight into the manager’s office and said, ‘you’re disrespecting me’. Harry Maguire’s got to move.
“I think he stays because of the games, and they can’t get someone else in. He plays in the cup games.”
United host Charlton Athletic in the EFL Cup on Tuesday ahead of a huge clash against arch-rivals Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday.