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Rio Ferdinand has hit back over Roy Keane’s criticism of Alejandro Garnacho, insisting the Manchester United star is one of the best options at Ruben Amorim’s disposal.
Garnacho was dropped by Amorim last December but has forced his way back into the side, coming off the bench at half-time to lift his side in Friday’s FA Cup fourth round victory over Leicester City.
After a turgid first-half, the Argentina international was a constant threat down the left and created United’s equaliser before Harry Maguire’s controversial winner in added time.
After the match, former United captain Keane praised the winger’s contribution but noted he still ‘wouldn’t trust’ the 20-year-old to start games.
Keane’s former teammate Ferdinand has taken exception to those comments, however, insisting Garnacho is one of the few players in the current squad who has the courage to ‘want the ball’ and ‘not shy away.’
Speaking on Rio Presents, the former England international said: ‘I don’t think his [Garnacho] stats are unbelievable this season but in terms of impacting the game and putting the other team on the back foot, he is probably one of the only players who does it in our team.
‘You look at him and say his game isn’t 100 per cent clean but that can be developed. But he doesn’t lack effort, he doesn’t lack energy.
‘He’s got a pair of b******s that says he wants the ball, he will take the ball anywhere.
‘He has got that belief and character that says I should be here and I should be playing. “Give me the ball at all times”.
‘And in the situation we are in now where there are a lot of players shying away from the ball when the team aren’t doing well, he stands out like a sore form in that respect.’
Ferdinand went onto compare Garnacho, who has eight goals and six assists this season, to former United star Nani, who’s end product was constantly under scuritny during his early years at Old Trafford.
‘He reminds me of Nani. One of the frustrations is he would get to it [the ball] and make the wrong decision or he would get to it and his execution wouldn’t be clean.
‘But these players grow into that when given the time. Comments like that when you say he can’t be trusted… that’s a big comment for a young kid.
‘I understand Roy might believe that but when you look at alternatives… If there were loads more options I would understand it but there is nothing else there that offers what he does and it is a hard one to understand.’
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