Former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand, has shared his thoughts on why certain players appear to perform better after leaving the club.

Players like Scott McTominay, Anthony Elanga, and Antony have all shown significant improvements since moving to new teams.

McTominay, now at Napoli, has been in great form, scoring six goals and providing four assists as his team leads the Serie A table.

Elanga, playing for Nottingham Forest, has impressed this season as they push for a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Even Antony, who struggled at Manchester United, has been a standout at Real Betis, with a goal and an assist in his first few games and winning man-of-the-match awards in both.

Marcus Rashford also made his debut for Aston Villa in their recent FA Cup win against Tottenham Hotspur.

On his podcast, Rio Ferdinand explained that the pressure and expectations at Old Trafford can weigh heavily on players.

He believes that once players leave Manchester United, they often feel a sense of freedom, which helps them unlock their best performances.

Ferdinand pointed out that McTominay is playing with confidence, comparing him to the in-form Jude Bellingham, and that Elanga looks like a completely new player.

He also mentioned that players like Antony and Rashford may follow the same path of improvement now that they’re away from the intense spotlight of Old Trafford.

In short, Ferdinand suggests that the added pressure of playing for Manchester United can sometimes hold players back, and moving away from the club allows them to flourish.