Rio Ferdinand reportedly voices strong concerns over how one particular Manchester United player is currently being treated at the club.
Manchester United’s resurgence under Michael Carrick has encountered its first sign of internal tension. Although the Red Devils stretched their unbeaten streak with a dramatic 1-1 draw away at West Ham on Tuesday night, concerns are reportedly brewing behind the scenes. Club icon Rio Ferdinand is said to be uneasy about how £74 million striker Benjamin Šeško is being handled, warning that the current approach could hinder the Slovenian’s development.
Šeško has quickly built a reputation as United’s go-to man in crunch time, delivering decisive late goals that have salvaged vital points. Yet despite his heroics, he has been forced to watch the opening whistle from the bench in recent matches. Ferdinand believes that repeatedly sidelining a young striker of such promise is a dangerous gamble, drawing parallels to how Kobbie Mainoo’s progress was once stalled before being revitalized.
On his podcast, the former United captain openly questioned Carrick’s team selections. While acknowledging the interim manager’s positive results, Ferdinand argued that a player of Šeško’s calibre should not be restricted to cameo appearances. He suggested that leaving such a clinical finisher out of the starting XI risks denting his confidence, especially after he has twice rescued the team in the space of ten days. For Ferdinand, the bigger question is how much more the striker must prove before earning a regular starting role.
Carrick, however, has stood firmly by his “unchanged XI” philosophy. In the past three fixtures, he has maintained a forward line of Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha, opting to introduce Šeško later as an impact substitute. The strategy has delivered mixed optics: on one hand, the starting trio has maintained balance and cohesion; on the other, Šeško’s late interventions — including a stoppage-time winner against Fulham and a dramatic 96th-minute equalizer at the London Stadium — have strengthened the argument that he deserves more responsibility from kickoff.
Addressing the situation after the West Ham draw, Carrick insisted that the striker remains in a positive frame of mind and emphasized the importance of maintaining team equilibrium. According to the manager, those who have started matches have performed well enough to justify continuity, even if it means keeping a proven match-winner in reserve.
Šeško himself has handled the spotlight with professionalism, but his post-match remarks hinted at quiet ambition. While pleased with his late equalizer, he made it clear that he was dissatisfied with the result and eager for greater involvement. His comments suggested that he sees himself as more than a late-game option and is ready to shoulder responsibility for a full 90 minutes.
With United clinging to fourth place and sitting just one point above Chelsea, the debate is intensifying. As the clash with Everton approaches on February 23, attention will focus squarely on Carrick’s team sheet. Whether the manager continues to deploy Šeško as a devastating secret weapon or hands him a starting berth could shape not only the club’s Champions League push, but also the trajectory of one of Europe’s most promising young strikers.
