Sir Alex Ferguson’s telling words around Danny Welbeck might have been the all-important warning to Ineos around a late move for the former England striker.
Danny Welbeck climbed through the ranks of the Manchester United youth academy and made his way into the first team in the tail end of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign.
The 35-year-old ex-England international signed for Brighton back in 2020 and is set for another major move in his career by signing for Premier League side Chelsea.
Welbeck has been provided permission to take part in his Chelsea medical at Stamford Bridge ahead of leaving Premier League club Brighton this summer.
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Sir Alex Ferguson former Manager of Manchester United and Danny Welbeck of Brighton and Hove Albion embrace before the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC at Old Trafford on January 19, 2025 in Manchester, England.
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
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Sir Alex Ferguson’s Man Utd admission about Danny Welbeck’s development showed his knee concern would hold him back
Danny Welbeck had a strong 2025-26 Premier League campaign after the former Manchester United striker avoided major injuries during his time at Brighton.
The former Gunners and Watford forward netted 14 times and registered two assists in 40 matches across all competitions for the Seagulls.
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Welbeck had been loaned out to both Preston North End and Sunderland during the reign of iconic former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.
As the ex-United academy product started to knock on the Red Devils’ door under Ferguson, the Scotsman pointed to why Welbeck’s development had been ‘slow.’
“He has always had ability but made slow progress because he had a bit of a knee growth problem, so we knew we had to wait for him,” Ferguson said, as per BBC Sport in 2011.
Welbeck, whose career was impacted by knee injuries, admitted himself that the way that his bones were growing in his body had a knock-on effect on him.
“My bones were growing quicker than my muscles,” he told The Athletic in 2024.
“Afterwards you’re in agony every single time you play football.”
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Should we just re-sign Danny Welbeck at this point? He seems to love scoring at Old Trafford
Welbeck graphic
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Danny Welbeck’s injury record with his knee is the clearest sign that Ineos could not make a rational move for him
Groin, toe, ankle, hamstring, calf, bruise and knee problems are among the list of injuries that soon-to-be former Brighton striker Welbeck has experienced so far.
The former Three Lions international has been hindered by his injury setbacks, both during his time at the Red Devils and at subsequent clubs like Arsenal.
According to Transfermarkt, Welbeck has missed a combined 277 days and 49 matches in total when it comes to knee-related injuries alone.
2020-21: knee problems — 38 days out and eight matches missed
2015-16: cartilage damage (knee cartilage operation) — 239 days out and 41 matches missed
The data above does not include the time that the soon-to-be Chelsea summer signing has experienced from other issues, including hamstring and calf injuries.
While Man Utd need another forward option to support Benjamin Sesko next season, it appears that Welbeck might have been too much of a risk for Ineos to sign.
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