Gary Neville believes Manchester United made a mistake by selling a player who is now tearing apart defenses, arguing that the club parted ways with him too soon.
Manchester United has faced scrutiny for several transfer decisions since Sir Alex Ferguson’s exit. Many players, such as Angel Gomes, have thrived after leaving the club, with Gomes making a name for himself in France. Recently, Antony’s loan spell at Real Betis has caught attention, particularly after his standout display against Gent.
A pattern has emerged, with numerous former players flourishing elsewhere, and Ruben Amorim has offered thoughts on why this trend persists. However, one departure from 2014 stands out as a move United likely regrets, as it involved a player who could have addressed a persistent issue in their squad.
Gary Neville has singled out Danny Welbeck’s exit as a major error, especially after Welbeck’s two-assist performance in Brighton’s 3-0 victory over Chelsea. Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville argued that Louis van Gaal parted ways with Welbeck too hastily because he didn’t align with the manager’s tactical approach.
Neville stressed that Welbeck’s ability to exploit space and link up with attacking players would have suited United’s system well. He firmly rejected the idea that Welbeck lacked the quality for United, insisting the forward could have been a reliable part of an elite squad. Neville praised Welbeck’s current form, highlighting his dominance over defenders like Colwill and Chalobah.
United sold Welbeck in 2014 for £16 million to facilitate Radamel Falcao’s loan arrival—an example of the club’s questionable transfer strategy. Since his departure, Welbeck has consistently performed against his former side, scoring six goals and providing one assist in 17 meetings.
At one point, there were rumors linking Welbeck with a return to Old Trafford under Erik ten Hag. Neville believes United missed out on retaining a valuable squad member, calling it a mistake to sacrifice Welbeck for Falcao’s short-term stint.
