12 December 2023 , 11:11
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Manchester United target Ronald Araujo has been warned against joining the club by Rio Ferdinand.
Araujo has been heavily linked with a move away from Barcelona in January, with reports from Spain claiming that both United and Bayern Munich are among the clubs interested in signing him. However, Red Devils legend Ferdinand has questioned why Araujo would want to join United in the first place.
Citing the recent struggles of Raphael Varane, who appears to have fallen out with manager Erik ten Hag and has barely featured in recent weeks with the likes of Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans and Luke Shaw picked ahead of him, Ferdinand believes players like Araujo will be concerned about 'risking their career' at Old Trafford.
Speaking on his Vibe with Five YouTube channel, Ferdinand said: "If I'm a player like Ronald who I think has every attribute to be one of the best defenders in the world, why are you going United?
"I'd be looking at Varane and going if he can go to Manchester United and get benched for a left-back, or for an old veteran like Jonny Evans an ex-player who has come back for his twilight years and someone who used to be captain who was left out for 18 months but is back in form now and is playing, I can't go there and risk my life and risk my career.
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"If you look at it, what player has gone to Man United and got better? Varane has got worse, Casemiro has gone backwards now. You'd get good money for Bruno still, he's the only one.
"Wan-Bissaka you aren't getting £50million for, they aren't getting what they paid for Dalot. I could go through them all. Garnacho has got value now, but I don't know who comes in? Would you get the same money for Hojlund now? No! Sancho? No! I could keep going if you want. Van de Beek?"
Ronald Araujo has been linked with a move to Manchester United (Jose Breton/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock)United are now gearing up for a must-win Champions League clash with Bayern Munich this evening, knowing they need to beat Thomas Tuchel's side and hope Copenhagen and Galatasaray draw in order to reach the last 16.
And Ten Hag believes United can get the job done, stating: "What I know is I never think in negative scenarios. We think positive. We know what to do - we have to win to stay in Europe, so we'll prepare the team with that belief, that feeling that we are able to do it.
"I think we have shown in the last weeks that, when we are at our best, we can do it. We are not consistent, that's clear, but we can have very good performances and highs. When we get it, we are able to beat any opponent."