Rio Ferdinand Backs Jadon Sancho’s ‘Freedom’ Comment on Marcus Rashford’s Loan Move

Former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand has defended Jadon Sancho after his controversial “freedom” comment on Marcus Rashford’s recent Instagram post. The comment sparked mixed reactions from United fans, with many seeing it as a dig at the club.

Before completing a six-month loan move to Aston Villa last month, Rashford, who was once the center of United’s attacking, battled for playing time under Rúben Amorim. A new chapter in his career began when he made his debut against Tottenham Hotspur in an FA Cup match.

The 26-year-old, who burst onto the scene as an 18-year-old with a sensational debut performance against Midtjylland, has since made over 420 appearances for United, scoring 138 goals and providing 63 assists. However, after a 30-goal season under Erik ten Hag in 2022/23, his form declined, and he found himself out of favor at Old Trafford.

After Rashford’s first game for Villa, he shared some photos from the match on Instagram. Among the comments was one from fellow United loanee Jadon Sancho, who simply wrote: “Freedom.”

Fans of United were offended by the statement, which some saw to be a criticism of the atmosphere at the club. Rio Ferdinand, however, has publicly supported Sancho’s message, stating that Rashford might finally thrive free from United’s pressure.

“You look at Antony, he’s got a man-of-the-match performance, a goal, and an assist in two games,” Ferdinand said on his Rio Presents podcast.

“McTominay is playing like prime Jude Bellingham at the moment. Elanga is thriving as a flying winger.

“You’ve got all these players who leave United and suddenly look like new, dynamic footballers. Why? Because the pressure is gone. The weight of the Old Trafford badge, the expectations, the toxic atmosphere—it all disappears.

“You’re probably going to see the same from Rashford. It’s about understanding why these players couldn’t perform at United but suddenly shine elsewhere.”

This situation isn’t new. Over the years, several United players have struggled at the club but thrived elsewhere. A big part of the problem has been United’s poor recruitment and lack of clear direction.

Instead of signing players to fit a system, United have spent huge money on big names like Romelu Lukaku and Sancho without a proper plan. They have also misused Academy players like McTominay, who was forced to play as a defensive midfielder instead of in his natural attacking role.

The absence of a consistent playing style and organization at Old Trafford has resulted in many excellent players stalling. When they leave for clubs with a more organized approach, they finally display their genuine abilities.