'If I had my choice' - Rio Ferdinand comments on Manchester United move for Dan Ashworth

Rio Ferdinand has called Dan Ashworth "the best" sporting director as Manchester United work on appointing him.

Ashworth is currently on gardening leave from Newcastle United after revealing his intention to leave the North East club. Ashworth has established himself as one of the leading sporting directors in football after success with the Football Association, Brighton and Hove Albion and latterly the Magpies.

United have identified Ashworth as the number one candidate for the sporting director role at Old Trafford. They are yet to agree on compensation with Newcastle for Ashworth, who only joined the club from Brighton less than two years ago.

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Former United centre-back Ferdinand has offered a glowing review of the 52-year-old, detailing why he is so highly regarded. He also claims that Newcastle asked him about the Englishman before he was appointed at St James' Park in 2022.

"I think he's the best". The former defender said on his Youtube channel Vibe with FIVE. "He's so calm, he's so sure in what he's doing. He's so focused, diligent, he knows the market.

"Not swayed, I don't think he gets bullied by agents and stuff like that. We should go back into the archives. I said that Man United should have got him time ago.

"If I had my choice to take a sporting director it would have been him. I spoke to him at Brighton. People at Newcastle asked me my opinion and I said, I'd go and get him and they went and got him."

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