Rio Ferdinand urges Man Utd to sign Barcelona star on free transfer

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand (Picture: YouTube)

Rio Ferdinand has advised Manchester United to sign Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski on a free transfer this summer.

Michael Carrick ’s attentions will soon turn to the transfer market after United finished the 2025-26 season with an impressive win over Brighton .

Manchester United’s impressive run of results under Carrick convinced bosses at Old Trafford to appoint the former midfielder permanently on a two-year contract .

Carrick’s return to United was only expected to be temporary but the ex-England star thrived after replacing Ruben Amorim in the dugout, with the Red Devils finishing third in the Premier League .

More will be expected of Manchester United next season and a return to the Champions League will test a squad that requires strengthening this summer.

Carrick is expected to welcome at least two midfielders to the club with Casemiro already gone and Manuel Ugarte possibly up for sale.

United may also be tempted to sign another striker to provide cover and competition for Benjamin Sesko, who struggled under Amorim but began to justify his hefty £74m price tag under Carrick.

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski (Picture: Getty)

Ferdinand has high hopes for the Slovenia international but says he would ‘benefit’ from the arrival of an experienced striker like Lewandowski.

Barcelona are currently searching for a replacement for 37-year-old Lewandowski , who is set to end his prolific four-year spell at the Nou Camp.

Signed from Bayern Munich in 2022, Lewandowski has scored an impressive 120 goals in 193 appearances for Barca, helping the club win three La Liga titles.

New permanent Man Utd boss Michael Carrick (Picture: Getty)

Lewandowski was even more prolific during his spell at Bayern, netting a staggering 344 goals in 375 games and winning eight Bundesliga titles and the Champions League at the German giants.

Assessing Manchester United’s priorities ahead of the summer transfer window, Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel : ‘They’re talking about [Atalanta midfielder] Ederson who we should have signed two years ago. Good footballer.

‘I think we’re going to have to buy two or three midfielders to cover that area and you need to bring in legs, they need to be mobile and players who can move.

‘Lewandowski isn’t a bad shout either if they’re going to get another striker. If we brought him in, look at the experience he has, the amount of learning that Sesko will do…

‘If you believe Sesko is the man for the next five years, the learning he could do behind Lewandowski who is a wonderful, humble human being. He would teach and show Sesko the way and get him playing.

‘That would be a sensible signing even if the numbers might be crazy in terms of wages. If you’re trying to benefit the squad he would be a great presence.

‘It’s going to be a big and interesting summer to see who Manchester United go for.’