RIO FERDINAND has backed Aaron Wan-Bissaka to play centre-back for Manchester United due to his defensive abilities.
The defender arrived at Old Trafford for £45million this summer from Crystal Palace in a bid to fill the void left at right-back with Antonio Valencia departing and Ashley Young – who has since left for Inter Milan – ageing.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been backed to play centre-back for Manchester United due to his defensive abilities
Wan-Bissaka’s tackling has seen him become one of the hardest defenders to beat in the Premier League this season, but still the 22-year-old faces competition in the England squad with Liverpool’s crossing maestro Trent Alexander-Arnold.
In an Instagram live Q&A, ex-United centre-half Ferdinand was asked who he would have play at right-back for England.
And in his response, he claimed Wan-Bissaka could easily play at centre-back in a three-man defence, but conceded 21-year-old Alexander-Arnold is by far better on the ball.
He said: “If you moulded them two players together, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Trent Alexander-Arnold, you’ve got the best player.
“Aaron Wan-Bissaka one-versus-one, I’ve seen Sterling play against him and Sterling rinses everybody, he finds it hard against Wan-Bissaka.
“One-versus-one he will match you physically, he will run with you, he will slide on the floor if you’re getting away from him a little bit more and he has to go into overdrive.
He could play right side of a back three at Man United if they wanted to, I think he’d be brilliant there.
Rio Ferdinand on Aaron Wan-Bissaka
“He can cover people, unbelievable. He could play right side of a back three at Man United if they wanted to, I think he’d be brilliant there.
“On the ball nowhere near as good as Trent, but Trent defensively one-on-one isn’t anywhere near as good as Wan-Bissaka, so if you had both of them you’ve got the ultimate machine.
“It depends on the game, If I knew I was going to have to defend a lot and I need someone to lock down the winger I’m bringing AWB on.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
