Rio Ferdinand has defended his claim that Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka still has a way to go before he is considered one of the best players in the world.
Manager Rio Ferdinand has listed 12 players he considers to be world-class after angering Arsenal fans by claiming Bukayo Saka is still missing.
Saka has been in great form of late, scoring 15 goals and providing 13 assists in 32 appearances for the Gunners this season. Ferdinand says the 22-year-old winger has been a standout player in Mikel Arteta’s side, but he is yet to reach the stature of his contemporaries.
The former Manchester United defender believes Saka needs to be at his best in the Champions League before stepping into the slot. His point was perhaps proven on Wednesday night as Saka failed to inspire Arsenal as they lost 1-0 to Porto in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
Before the match, Ferdinand was asked by TNT Sports to compile a list of current players who he considered to be the best of the best. They are Manchester City’s Ederson, Kyle Walker, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland, Liverpool’s Alisson, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Vinicius. -Junior, Bayern Munich star Harry Kane, Paris Saint-Germain. Striker Kylian Mbappe.
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown said of the list: Of course, he is in great form at Real Madrid right now. But we’re keeping an eye on Saka – he’s been England Player of the Year for the last two years and Bellingham hasn’t factored in that and he’s still on the list for Rio, so I don’t know, but maybe. So maybe Rio are playing a little trick on Arsenal fans. ”
Ferdinand replied: “They actually got that list a little bit wrong because Bellingham was on his own right at the bottom of that list and was making his way there. To me right now, it’s only a matter of time before I can put him on that list. I think it’s a matter of. He’ll be there – he’s in world-class form. He just needs that time – and that’s where I see Saka.
“Saka has world-class potential, he just hasn’t played in the knockout stages of the Champions League. You can tell in that moment that they’ve been successful, and they’ve all been doing stupid things over a long period of time.”
Please give us your opinion! What do you think about the Rio Ferdinand pick? Comment below.
On last week’s podcast, Ferdinand said of Saka: “Not yet. Listen, I think Saka has been unreal. I actually think he needs some rest. For a young kid, it’s a lot of games. But , I think so.” ”
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