Ferdinand slams Carragher for ‘disrespect’ of Man Utd star who has proved him wrong with dramatic comeback

Rio Ferdinand has hit out at Jamie Carragher over his ‘disrespect’ of the Manchester United star who has proved him wrong under Ruben Amorim this season.

Having looked destined for the sack following a 3-1 defeat to Brentford a month ago, three Premier League wins on the bounce have given Amorim a breathing space with United now fifth in the table at Old Trafford.

And with praise for the signings of Brian Mebemo, Matthies Cunha and Sunny Lemmons in recent weeks, Ferdinand is easily praised. Casemiro For its restoration in this term.

“Casemiro’s game is not about constantly chasing the pitch,” the former United defender said of Rio Ferdinand’s presents.

“He’s built a great career on the back of being the glue, the guy who holds the back line and the midfield together and just plugs the gaps. He’s not asked to run all over the place or be a creator. He’s asked to take it and give it to the people who create it.

“He might have scored the odd goal here and there when he got a bit loose, but he was the one doing all the dirty work and was able to stay in that area and marshal.

“Lately, that’s what we’ve seen. He’s looking a bit like the old Casemiro.”

Casemiro impressed in his first season for United following his £70million move from Real Madrid, but after two poor seasons for the Brazilian, who have been heavily linked with an exit from Old Trafford during that disastrous spell.

And Carragher urged Casemiro to “call it a day”. After a particularly poor display in a 4–0 defeat against Crystal Palace in May 2024.

“Leave football before you go,” he said. “Football has left him at this high level. He has to call it a day at this level of football and movement.”

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But of the 16 goals combined this season, just three of those have come with Casemiro on the pitch, and Ferdinand used that evidence of his resurgence to aim a jaw-dropping goal at Carragher.

“It takes me back to what Jamie Carragher said, ‘Quit football’,” Ferdinand added.

“I said at the time, I thought it was very disrespectful when you are talking about a five-time Champions League winner who is going through a change in the approach to football, going through a time where he looked all the way.

“Players lose confidence, they lose form, sometimes players lose their legs, but I think the call was too early and I thought it was extremely disrespectful to someone who has achieved so much in this game.

“Sometimes you have to look beyond trying to find an individual. We’re very fond of looking for scapegoats. Sometimes you have to look at the way the team is playing and the way it’s doing, is that going to negatively affect a player or is it actually a player that’s gone?

“I think the way the system has changed a bit and tweaked it, you’re seeing the benefits of someone like Casemiro.

“Amorim spoke glowingly of him, his character, his resilience. You don’t win five Champions Leagues without those two aspects in your make-up.

“Now he is the reference point for any player who is going through a difficult time at this football club.”