Rio in 2023, said Gabriel was the defender most likely to make a mistake out of those in the Emirates back-line
By Kehinde Okeowo
Manchester United legend and pundit, Rio Ferdinand seems to have had a change of mind, after initially criticizing Arsenal defender, Gabriel Magalhaes.
Speaking via his X handle recently, the former Red Devils defender admitted that the Brazilian centre-halves has improved tremendously and now matured, aggressive, controlled and composed.
In 2023, Rio criticized Gabriel, saying despite being an ever-present in the Gunners line-up since his arrival in the summer of 2020, he clearly still has some way to go before convincing him .
The former Red Devils regular-turned-pundit, also said the Arsenal ace was the defender most likely to make a mistake out of those in the Emirates back-line.
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He, however, later revealed that Gabriel privately reached out to him and took exceptions to his criticism.
“I said that last year,” Rio told his YouTube channel. “And he didn’t like it. He DM’d me. In the DM’s. This is a big thing, for me, with players today, they can’t take criticism.”
However, less than a year later, the ex- England international now believes Gabriel has developed into a more matured and reliable defender.
Speaking via his verified social media page, Rio Ferdinand tweeted: “When I spoke to Declan [Rice] the other day, he was waxing lyrical, raving about Gabriel, who I criticised last season, and I stand by that and rightly so last season.
“But he seems to have learned. He’s matured, and he’s one of the most aggressive, but also controlled and composed centre-halves in the league.
“And his partnership with Saliba… If Saliba was fit last season, they might have won the league.”
