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Poor displays on the pitch have been mirrored by questionable decisions off it, with billions worth of talent coming and going from the club.

A number of signings have failed to deliver but Ferdinand believes some questionable sales have been just as damaging to Man United.

The former England defender was disappointed by United’s decision to sell Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez and full-back siblings Rafael and Fabio da Silva.

Welbeck came through United’s academy and was closing in on his 150th first-team appearance before being sold to Arsenal in 2014.

The former underwhelmed for Arsenal but has enjoyed the best period of his career in his 30s and Ferdinand believes he would still be starting for his boyhood team United.

Hernandez was a consistent performer in his five-year spell at Old Trafford and helped Ferguson win two Premier League titles before the Mexico goalscorer was sold in 2014.

Rafael and Fabio da Silva were also sold after Ferguson’s retirement in decision that also left Ferdinand scratching his head.

Discussing Man United’s transfer strategy in recent years, Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel: ‘There’s players I would have kept.

‘Danny Welbeck, Chicharito, Rafael de Silva, Fabio de Silva. Has anyone come into those positions and done better than what they would have done?

‘There’s no full-backs who have come in and done much better than Rafael or Fabio.

‘When I heard we were letting Chicharito go, I thought, “what am I hearing here?” When I heard him and Welbeck were going, I couldn’t believe it.

‘I was like, “What? Why?“ Those were great squad players but could have become starters when a few of the bigger and older players were leaving.

‘The generation was changing and I could see a place for them at the club.

‘You’re letting Chicharito go when he’s scoring mad amount of goals on a regular basis, Welbeck is impacting games with and without the ball. Look at Welbeck now, what United would do to have him in the team now.’