'That's highly disrespectful': Ferdinand slams Carragher after what he said on 'Man United's best player'

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has slammed Jamie Carragher following his comments about midfielder Casemiro on Sunday.

The Red Devils suffered a heavy 3-0 Premier League loss to Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Casemiro had a dreadful first half where he gifted possession in the lead-up to both goals. Manager Erik ten Hag replaced him with Toby Collyer at the interval.

During the game, Carragher made a comment about Casemiro on Sky Sports which did not go well with Ferdinand.

“I heard Jamie Carragher say, ‘Leave the football before the football leaves you’, and I just think that’s highly disrespectful,” Ferdinand said on his YouTube Channel.

“I just think it’s really disrespectful, especially given what my man’s [Casemiro] won.”

The 45-year-old highlighted that Casemiro is not known for dictating the pace of matches and is being asked to play out of his comfort zone.

He added: “There’s more to it than he’s just made a couple of mistakes. If you look at the two games before Liverpool [versus Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion], he’s been arguably Man United’s best player.

“I think it’s easier to say that ‘he’s gone, he’s finished, he’s too old’. I believe when I look at him, he’s being asked to do a lot of things, like play 30-yard balls – dictate the pace.

“These are things Man United would never have recruited him for.

“He was never asked to do this at Real Madrid. He was cleaning up, security in front [of the defence], slide tackling, covering all the gaps and then giving it to other people to play football.

“But he’s being asked now to do things that he’s never done before, so he’s going to make mistakes because that’s not his natural game.”

Casemiro could leave United next year

The 32-year-old has been hugely inconsistent over the past 12 months at United. Ten Hag made a huge statement replacing him at half-time on Sunday.

Collyer was handed his Premier League debut, and the youngster fared well. The 20-year-old won all seven duels contested alongside three successful tackles.

The United graduate was better with his work rate. The big question is whether Casemiro will start another Premier League game in his illustrious career.

The Red Devils have signed Manuel Ugarte for big money from Paris Saint-Germain, and he is expected to become the first-choice in the number six position.

With Collyer’s promising debut, Casemiro could potentially become the third-choice holding midfielder following the first international break of the campaign.

There has been interest from the Saudi Pro League in Casemiro, but a move may not happen until January with the Saudi transfer window closing last night.

Stats from Sofascore.com.