‘He’s got a pair of b*llocks!' - Rio Ferdinand rubbishes Roy Keane's claim Alejandro Garnacho 'can't be trusted' at Man Utd despite admitting 'his game isn't 100 percent clean'

The 20-year-old Argentine winger was left out of the squad for United's derby clash with Manchester City in December but has since forced himself back into Ruben Amorim's plans. During United’s FA Cup fourth-round clash against Leicester City, Garnacho was introduced at half-time and the forward did not disappoint in United’s comeback win. His performance on the left wing gave United an attacking spark after a lacklustre first half, as he was instrumental in setting up the equaliser for Joshua Zirkzee before Harry Maguire’s controversial stoppage-time goal secured the Red Devils' place in the next round.

Although former United captain Keane acknowledged Garnacho’s influence after the match, he expressed doubt about his consistency. Keane suggested that the young winger is still too raw to be trusted as a regular starter and expressed his scepticism about his overall reliability in the team.

Keane’s remarks did not sit well with his former United team-mate Ferdinand, who passionately defended Garnacho on his podcast, "Rio Presents."

"You look at him and say his game isn’t 100 per cent clean but that can be developed. But he doesn’t lack effort, he doesn’t lack energy," he said.

"He’s got a pair of b*llocks that says he wants the ball, he will take the ball anywhere. He has got that belief and character that says I should be here and I should be playing. 'Give me the ball at all times'. And in the situation we are in now where there are a lot of players shying away from the ball when the team aren’t doing well, he stands out like a sore form in that respect."

Ferdinand also compared Garnacho to ex-United winger Nani, who also struggled for consistency early in his career but possessed undeniable talent.

"He reminds me of Nani," he said. "One of the frustrations is he would get to it [the ball] and make the wrong decision or he would get to it and his execution wouldn’t be clean. But these players grow into that when given the time. Comments like that when you say he can’t be trusted… that’s a big comment for a young kid.

"I understand Roy might believe that but when you look at alternatives… If there were loads more options I would understand it but there is nothing else there that offers what he does and it is a hard one to understand."

United will look to build on their FA Cup win when they face Tottenham Hotspur next Sunday in a crucial Premier League fixture, with Garnacho likely to be in the frame for a starting role.