United are undertaking a significant rebuild of their squad this summer and Neville has outlined four players he thinks must go
Gary Neville has called for a decisive clear-out at Manchester United this summer, singling out four players he believes must be shown the door as the club rebuild under new head coach Ruben Amorim.
After a historically dismal 15th-place Premier League finish and defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final, Neville believes the time for sentiment is over.
Speaking on The Overlap’s podcast It’s Called Soccer, the former United captain said that Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony should all leave Old Trafford.
“Marcus Rashford has to leave, for him and for the club,” said Neville. “That ship has sailed and he needs to find himself another club.”
The 26-year-old forward left United on loan in January for Aston Villa where he registered four goals and six assists in 17 games, before missing out on the remainder of the season through injury.
With Villa having failed to qualify for the Champions League, it seems highly unlikely that they will keep Rashford.
“It sounds to me that Villa aren’t going to keep him and he’s going to end up back at United, but I hope for the club and Marcus’ sake, it feels like that path has come to an end,” said Neville.
As for Jadon Sancho, the winger spent the full season on loan at Chelsea after falling out with former United manager Erik ten Hag. However, although they had agreed a deal with an obligation to buy, the Blues have made up their mind not to sign Sancho on a permanent deal and instead pay United £5 million for failing to fulfil the obligation.
While the winger will now return to Manchester United, Neville has called for a parting of ways.
“With Jadon Sancho, Manchester United have to make sure they part ways with him,” said Neville. “From Jadon’s point of view, he has to make sure he parts ways with Manchester United.”
Neville was sympathetic in his comments on Antony, suggesting that the Brazilian’s style of play is simply ill-suited to English football.
“His interview was absolutely spot on,” said the former United captain. “I would imagine he was absolutely going under while he was at Old Trafford. He’s gone to Spain and is absolutely suited down to the ground with Spanish football.
“Antony is perfect for Spain, and United should facilitate him leaving. Best for United, best for the club.”
Neville also agreed that Alejandro Garnacho, United’s 20-year-old Argentinian talent, should leave after having publicly challenged the manager. After the 1-0 defeat to Tottenham in Bilbao, Garnacho criticised Amorim’s selection in the media for keeping him on the bench and playing him only 20 minutes in the second half.
“If players are questioning the manager in public, the manager has to win or the manager has to leave,” insisted Neville.
“I don’t think that’s going to happen this time. That’s happened far too many times before, so I think Garnacho will leave just purely because of that.”
Neville added that Garnacho has the potential to thrive elsewhere, especially in La Liga.
“I think he’ll thrive in Spain, he’ll score goals and he’ll be someone we’ll be looking back at next season and asking: ‘Why did Manchester United not keep him?’
“That type of thing will happen with him. But for the club and for him, it’s right that he goes.”
