Gary Neville has named four players who he believes Manchester United must sell this summer, and it's a list that would completely alter Ruben Amorim's squad
Gary Neville speaking into a microphone during an interview
Gary Neville has offered his definitive verdict on what Manchester United should do
(Image: The Overlap US/YouTube)
Gary Neville reckons Manchester United quartet Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho should all leave Old Trafford this summer.
United have been quick off the mark in the transfer market since the window opened on Sunday, having wrapped up the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves after activating his £62.5million release clause. The club's confidence is high regarding sealing a deal for Brentford striker Bryan Mbeumo, with a bid of around £50m potentially beating interest from top-flight competitors Arsenal, Newcastle and Tottenham.
The arrivals of these two attackers are seen as pivotal to Ruben Amorim's ambitions of revamping the attack, which is why Neville foresees the departure of the aforementioned quartet from the club. Rashford, Sancho and Antony spent most of the campaign on loan, while Garnacho was linked with Chelsea and Napoli in January.
However, Neville is adamant that homegrown talent Kobbie Mainoo shouldn't be sold by Manchester United, reports the Mirror. Speaking on the It's Called Soccer podcast, he said: "On these five I'm pretty certain. Marcus Rashford has to leave for him and the club. I think that ship has sailed and he needs to find himself another club.
"I would worry that Aston Villa haven't announced that they're keeping him already because I think that could have been an easy deal to do with United if they were going to keep him, so it sounds to me like Villa aren't going to keep him. I would say for Marcus' sake and for United's sake that it feels like that path has come to an end.
"I feel a little bit similarly with him as I do with Marcus. I'd be a bit concerned that Chelsea haven't made the noises that they're going to keep him. Again, Manchester United have to make sure they part ways with him and, from Jadon's point of view, he has to make sure that he parts ways with Manchester United."
Neville feels that Antony's loan spell has been different, labelling Real Betis and La Liga the 'perfect' destination. "I can imagine he was absolutely going under while he was at Old Trafford," he explained.
Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford
Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford could both leave Man United permanently this summer
"He's gone to Spain and having seen a couple of players that I played with not do it Old Trafford but do it in Spain... I think he's suited down to the ground and it's been proven. Over there, there's a different tactical awareness, there's a different technical ability and there's a way of playing that's just more suited to players.
"The players I'm referring to are players like Kleberson or Diego Forlan. It just didn't quite happen for them but they had really good careers and I think there are players like that who just aren't suited to a league. I think Antony is perfect for Spain and, again, somebody who Manchester United should facilitate leaving. It's best for Antony and best for the club."
Regarding Garnacho, whose future was thrust into the spotlight after being named on the bench for the Europa League final, Neville said: "I think if players are taking on the manager and if players are questioning the manager in public through social media or through other means, the manager has to win.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Antony of Manchester United celebrates scoring their second goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Manchester United and Barnsley at Old Trafford on September 17, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Zohaib Alam - MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Neville thinks Antony and Garnacho would benefit from an exit(Image: Zohaib Alam - MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images)
"If the manager doesn't win, the manager has to leave and I don't think that's going to happen this time. That's happened far too many times before. I think Garnacho will leave purely because of that, I think they've had enough.
"Garnacho can play in the Premier League, no doubt, but I think he'll love it in Spain, he'll thrive over there, he'll score goals. He'll probably be someone next season that we're all looking back on thinking, 'Why didn't Manchester United keep him?', that type of thing will probably happen, there's an element of that, but I think he has to go.
"That's not me throwing my toys out the pram and saying, 'Get him out the club'... no, for him and the club, I think it's right that he goes. Those four players should leave, not just because Manchester United should let them go, but because they should go and find themselves a place in their lives where they can go and play football because it's not at Old Trafford."
BILBAO, SPAIN - MAY 21: Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United looks dejected following defeat in the UEFA Europa League Final 2025 between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Estadio de San Mames on May 21, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Neville was adamant that United must hold on to Mainoo
But the idea of letting go of Mainoo - who has been with United since he was just six years old - seems too much for Neville, even after Amorim left him on the bench for last month’s 1-0 loss against Tottenham in Bilbao. "Mainoo, no. That's a step too far," insisted Neville.
"If we can't give Kobbie Mainoo a job in that two in midfield... I look at Mainoo and the way he plays football and I think a top club would want him. Why can't we make him a top player? If he's one of ours and he's shown talent.
"I don't know what's gone on there in the last few months. He's obviously had some injuries which has caused him a problem so he needs to stay fit, but I'd like to think he could be one of that two in midfield that Ruben Amorim plays.
"It's probably not Casemiro as his partner and it's probably not [Manuel] Ugarte as his partner, it's probably someone else in there who is better than those two, if I'm being honest. But we should be building around Kobbie Mainoo in central midfield and not because he's come through the ranks."