Ferdinand Reveals Top 12 World-Class Players, Amid Ongoing Saka Debate
Former Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand has recently caused a stir among Arsenal fans by stating that Bukayo Saka is not quite at the world-class level yet. However, Ferdinand has also revealed his list of 12 players who he considers to be world-class.
Defining what counts as world-class can be subjective, but Ferdinand took some time to think about it and came up with his elite list. On TNT Sport, he named five Manchester City players – Ederson, Kyle Walker, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, and Erling Haaland. He also included three Liverpool players – Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, and Mohamed Salah.
Ferdinand’s list also featured Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Vinicius Jr, and Jude Bellingham. However, he did backtrack on Bellingham’s inclusion, stating that he should be on the list below for now because he still needs more time to prove himself.
Ferdinand explained that Saka is in a similar situation to Bellingham, showing potential but not quite reaching world-class status yet. He highlighted the importance of performing in prestigious games and producing consistent performances over a long period of time.
Since expressing his opinion on Saka, Ferdinand has faced backlash and has had to defend his stance. Many Arsenal fans argue that Saka is already world-class, but Ferdinand stands by his belief that the young player still has more to prove.
While Saka has been exceptional for Arsenal, Ferdinand points out that he has yet to showcase his skills in the knockout stages of the Champions League, which is a crucial test for any player aspiring to be considered world-class.
In conclusion, Ferdinand’s list of world-class players includes some of the biggest names in football. While there may be debates and disagreements about who should be on this elite list, it is clear that Ferdinand values experience, consistency, and performing under pressure when determining world-class status. As for Saka, he may not have reached that level yet, but he certainly has the potential to get there in the future.