'Absolutely criminal' - Rio Ferdinand stunned by Man Utd transfer decision

Rio Ferdinand has slammed Manchester United’s decision to allow some of their highest paid players to run down their contracts.

United were held to a 1-1 draw against Leicester this evening as their hopes of finishing the top four took another huge blow.

At present there is plenty of uncertainty around the club with United still pursuing with interim boss Ralf Rangnick ahead of a new impending permanent appointment in the summer and several key players’ futures are in serious doubt.

Paul Pogba is the biggest name out of contract in the summer who is yet to make a decision on whether to pen a new deal or leave on a free transfer.

The Frenchman, who started against the Foxes on Saturday, won’t be short of offers but Ferdinand says it’s ‘absolutely criminal’ a player United signed for a then world-record transfer fee of £89m in 2016 could now leave for nothing.

When told it’s risky playing players who ‘don’t care’ because they won’t be at the club next season, Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel: ‘That’s because business has been done poorly I think at the club.

‘I don’t think we should be allowed players to get down to this stage of their contracts, I don’t think it should happen.

‘If someone like Marcus, like Pogba, you want to keep these players if they’re playing well, if you have the desire to keep them get it done and dusted.

‘Economically, to let someone leave you’ve spent £80m-£90m, come in and leave plus wages, leave on a free transfer is absolutely criminal.

‘Twice. It’s like we’ve pulled our pants down twice. Unbelievable.’

While Pogba, along with Edinson Cavani and Jesse Lingard out of contract at the end of the season, could be off in the summer, it’s a very different story for Bruno Fernandes.

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