Rio Ferdinand hails Manchester United for bringing in Marcel Sabitzer

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 01 February 2023

Ferdinand hails Manchester United for bringing in Sabitzer

Former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand hails the Red Devils for bringing in Bayern Munich midfielder Marcel Sabitzer on loan.

Former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand has said that he is "absolutely delighted" with the club's acquisition of Bayern Munich midfielder Marcel Sabitzer.

The Austria international completed a loan move to the Red Devils on transfer deadline day, and he is due to spend the remainder of the 2022-23 campaign at Old Trafford.

Man United had not been planning to bring in a new midfielder in January, but they changed their stance after it was revealed that Christian Eriksen would be out until the end of April with an ankle injury.

Sabitzer moved to Bayern from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2021, and he has made 54 appearances for the German giants, scoring twice and contributing two assists in the process.

Former Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand pictured in April 2019 © Reuters

Ferdinand has lavished praise on Man United for their work in recruiting Sabitzer late in the window, with the club's former centre-back confident that the Austrian will be a top signing for Erik ten Hag's side.

"I'm absolutely delighted. If I was going to say I'm going to get a short-term replacement for Eriksen at the drop of the hat, Sabitzer is the player you'd want," Ferdinand said on his Vibe with Five YouTube channel.

"I watched a hell of a lot of this player at Leipzig when he was in the Champions League and he was integral to everything they've done.

"Yes he's gone to Bayern and he's not become a regular, but he's behind household names.

Austria's Marcel Sabitzer celebrates their first goal an own goal scored by Wales' Ben Davies on March 24, 2022 © Reuters

"He will be a really good signing, really experienced player, played in big games, play in the Champions League regularly, he knows his way around the football pitch.

"For what Man Utd need in this short window, when they needed a player, they couldn't have done better I don't think - so well done to the recruitment team."

Despite struggling to break into the side on a regular basis, Sabitzer has still made 24 appearances for Bayern during the 2022-23 campaign, contributing one goal and one assist in the process.

In the Bundesliga, the midfielder has provided one goal and one assist in 15 appearances, while he featured in all six of the team's matches in the group stage of the Champions League.

Sabitzer could make his debut for the Red Devils in Saturday's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace.