Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has expressed his disappointment over the club's transfer decisions, naming four players he believes the Red Devils should never have sold.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand identified Rafael da Silva, Danny Welbeck, Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez, and Fabio da Silva as players whose departures have not been adequately compensated for by subsequent signings.

"There are players I'd have kept," Ferdinand stated. "Welbeck, Chicharito, Rafael, and Fabio. Has anyone come into those positions and done better than what they'd have done?"

The former England international was particularly critical of the club's decisions regarding their full-back positions, adding: "There are no full-backs who've come in and done much better than Rafael or Fabio."

Ferdinand also expressed surprise at Manchester United's decision to allow strikers Chicharito and Welbeck to leave the club during what he considered to be their prime years.

His comments come amid ongoing scrutiny of Manchester United's recruitment strategy since the retirement of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, with many critics pointing to inconsistent transfer decisions as a factor in the club's fluctuating fortunes in recent seasons.

The Brazilian twins Rafael and Fabio da Silva joined Manchester United in 2008, with Rafael becoming a fan favorite before his departure to Lyon in 2015. Welbeck, a product of United's academy, was sold to Arsenal in 2014, while Mexican striker Chicharito left for Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 after a loan spell at Real Madrid.

Ferdinand's critique highlights the ongoing debate about Manchester United's transfer policy as the club continues to rebuild in its quest to return to the summit of English and European football.