- Brighton striker Danny Welbeck has looked back on his time at Man United
- He has revealed that he is still linked to the club as he is part of a WhatsApp group
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Danny Welbeck has admitted he is part of a WhatsApp group for former Manchester United players.
Welbeck, 33, came through United’s academy before breaking into the first team and winning two Premier League titles before joining Arsenal in 2014.
Despite leaving the club a decade ago, Welbeck, who now plays for Brighton, has revealed he is still linked to his boyhood team, along with a host of household names from United’s golden era under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Welbeck opened up about his time at United Air sports: ‘Training at United when you get into the first team was actually harder than the games we played this weekend because it was so intense.’
He was then asked who the worst coach on the team was, to which he replied: ‘I’m in a WhatsApp group! There will be some people who won’t be happy if I mention their name.’
Danny Welbeck has revealed he is in a WhatsApp group for former Man United players
He revealed that club legend Rio Ferdinand (fifth right) is ‘in charge’ of the chat
Former United stars have not been afraid to criticize the club in recent years, with the team failing to win a league title since Ferguson in 2013.
They are not shy about expressing their strong opinions, and Welbeck was happy to name the group’s administrator after being asked who was ‘in charge’ of the chat.
“I think it could be Rio,” Welbeck added. “He’s just talking, isn’t he? He loves it and now makes talking as a career. But we also give him a lot of support.’
Since tying the knot in 2015, Ferdinand, who won six league titles and the Champions League at Old Trafford, has become a pundit for TNT Sports. He also has his own YouTube channel where he regularly expresses his frustrations about United’s current situation.
Another former United player, Ashley Young, spoke out about the infamous WhatsApp group in May, revealing that the group had questioned United’s recruitment after the club finished in eighth place last season.
Things have not improved at the start of this season, with United in fourteenth place and yet to win in Europe.
This led to Erik ten Hag losing his job on Monday, and it is widely expected that he will be replaced by Ruben Amorim after the November international break.
Ferdinand is now an expert at TNT Sports and regularly expresses his frustrations with United
Ashley Young previously revealed that the group has been used by ex-United stars to criticize the club’s recruitment
United’s recruitment has remained in doubt and the club has suffered a dismal start to the season, which led to Erik ten Hag being sacked this week.
Another United icon, Ruud van Nistelrooy, is in interim charge while the Amorim deal is finalized, although there is no suggestion he is involved in the WhatsApp group.
There has been plenty for the WhatsApp group to sink their teeth into in recent weeks, with on-pitch results not going United’s way, while many of their summer signings failed to get off the ground.
They will be hoping a change of manager brings a change of fortune, with the Red Devils back in action against Chelsea on Sunday.