Rio Ferdinand has insisted that Manchester United cult hero Michael Carrick would have started for England today if his ex-club teammate were still playing.
The TNT Sports pundit played alongside Carrick for both club and country, with Ferdinand’s former United teammate widely revered for his career at Old Trafford.
Carrick, who is now the manager of Middlesbrough, was a firm favourite under Sir Alex Ferguson and forged a formidable midfield partnership with Paul Scholes.
Often deployed as a holding midfielder, the ex-United star excelled in his position and unlocked the true potential of his teammates with his brilliant passing ability.
Despite his successful career at United, the 42-year-old former United midfielder’s club success didn’t necessarily translate over to his international career.
Ferdinand on Carrick playing for England today
Carrick made his England debut under Sven-Goran Eriksson and represented his country only 34 times, including one appearance at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
He would face stiff competition in the England starting XI and Carrick would be behind the likes of Scholes, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in the pecking order.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE, Carrick’s former United teammate defended him and believed that the ex-midfielder should have played more for his country.
Ferdinand argued that Carrick would “100 per cent” start for England now, with the footballer-turned-pundit suggesting that he would play alongside Declan Rice.
“It’s like [if] Michael Carrick plays today, he starts, 100 per cent,” he said on his YouTube channel.
“Because the formation, because I think the lack of depth around in that position as well.
“You [have] Declan Rice, he’s the only one. But I think he [Carrick] would sit and probably play with Declan with the way that they play.”
Ferdinand on Carrick unlocking four England players
Ferdinand, who was capped 81 times for England, admitted that he felt sorry over how Carrick was unable to secure regular playing time for the Three Lions.
The 45-year-old former United defender believed that England managers of the past missed an incredible opportunity to effectively utilise Carrick’s skills in midfield.
According to Ferdinand, Carrick “would have unlocked” the true potential behind the likes of Lampard, Gerrard, Scholes and David Beckham in an England team.
When asked about Carrick being snubbed, Ferdinand responded: “Yeah, I used to feel sorry for him. I used to go into the squads and you just knew he wasn’t going to play.
“I used to sit there and think, ‘I’ve played with you every week, I know how good you are and you don’t play.’
“And… I’m not saying he was better than Frank [Lampard] or Stevie [Gerrard] or Becks [Beckham] or Scholsey [Scholes], but I’m saying he was the only one who was different.
“He’s the one who would have unlocked every one of those other players. He’s the one who would have made all of those four other players, if they played alongside him, better.
“Them four players there couldn’t play together and make one another better. That’s what I thought the managers missed.”
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