Rio Ferdinand sends message to Tuchel, says 'very clever' Man United star should start at the World Cup

Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has revived his Manchester United career under interim manager Michael Carrick.

Described as ‘very clever‘ by former United striker Dimitar Berbatov, Mainoo has started every Premier League game under Carrick.

His upturn in fortune at United has led to his recall into the England national team. He made his first international appearance since 2024 in last Friday’s 1-1 draw with Uruguay.

United legend Rio Ferdinand believes Mainoo should be in England’s starting XI at next summer’s FIFA World Cup.

He said via his YouTube channel: “I want to dictate the game. The reason I am playing him is because of his European Championship experience, and what he did in that tournament led me to believe he will be unfazed.

“He knows how to play at that level; he has done it before, was one of our best players there, and was one of the guys controlling things.”

Ferdinand also argued that Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford should be a starter because of his pace.

However, he did not include either Harry Maguire or Luke Shaw.

Manager Thomas Tuchel has already confirmed that Maguire is his fifth centre-back option, while Luke Shaw is unlikely to make the squad as he has not featured for them since 2024.

Ferdinand’s other choices for the starting line-up include goalkeeper Jordan Pickford; defenders Reece James, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, and Nico O’Reilly; midfielders Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham; and forwards Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane.

Mainoo unlikely to start for England at the World Cup

Mainoo was a starter for England at the 2024 European Championship, but his previous struggles at United has cost him a place in the team.

Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson are Tuchel’s preferred central midfield pairing in his preferred 4-2-3-1.

Anderson, who is one of United’s midfield targets, made his England debut under Tuchel in September. He has missed just one game since then.

Rice has been a regular in the starting XI before Tuchel and has maintained his spot under the former Chelsea manager.

Mainoo is also unlikely to start as a No.10, with Morgan Rogers, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden all ahead of him in that position.

The United academy graduate is likely to get more minutes as a substitute rather than as a starter for Tuchel’s side at the World Cup.

Stats from transfermarkt.com

Article written by Henry Thornton .