Rio Ferdinand hits back at Michael Owen doubts over Anthony Elanga at Man Utd

Michael Owen has raised doubts over Anthony Elanga by suggesting that the Manchester United winger will not emulate Ryan Giggs or Wayne Rooney.

Elanga scored United’s equaliser in their 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

The 19-year-old has delivered a number of impressive performances since Ralf Rangnick took over as United manager, with the German even revealing that he was so impressed by the winger that he prevented him from leaving on loan.

But Owen believes United need ‘world class’ young players breaking through to the first team and has questioned whether Elanga fits into that category.

‘He’s made a difference when he’s come on,’ Owen told BT Sport.

‘If I saw him playing for any other team I’d say, ‘yeah, this kid’s got something and he’s going to be a good player’.

‘But when I see them coming through Manchester United they have to be special, special. They have to be world class.

‘Is Elanga and players like that going to take you to the league title or win the Champions League? Are they like Ryan Giggs or Wayne Rooney coming through?

‘He’s a very, very good player, but if I’m being brutally honest, if you’re asking me what I think of him, I think he’ll have a fantastic career, but he’ll do very, very well to be a Ryan Giggs or a Wayne Rooney.

‘I know that’s comparing [Elanga to some of the greats], but that’s what Manchester United are. That’s what they’re aspiring to be, they were and they’ve got to get back to that.

‘If you’ve not got that absolute freakish talent, you’re not really going to be the right… we’ve just spoken about Marcus Rashford – he’s a phenomenal player – he’s got to find another level. Because at the minute they’re not playing like they’re going to