Ferdinand: Tielemans is a great deal, Andre Santos is proving himself.

Rio Ferdinand discussed the World Cup, the transfer window so far, preseason preparations, club atmosphere, new signings, and the match against Leeds United at Crocker Park in Dublin, Ireland.

Rio Ferdinand said: "It's great to chat with everyone. Rio, welcome here, bro. How was your summer?"

He said, "Yes, it's been great, though quite busy. I've been spending the last few weeks in Portugal with my family, and then the World Cup comes up, so that's all for today."

When asked if he enjoyed the World Cup, Ferdinand said, “I really enjoyed it. I had a lot of fun. I was staying in Los Angeles, which was a great place. Our Airbnb was also great; they took good care of us, and honestly, it was a fantastic experience. It was just a group of brothers traveling together, which was exciting, and we were also working at the same time.”

He said, "There was a lot of work, so it was a good balance. All the Manchester United fans who went to the World Cup did a great job. I think the Portuguese players like Bruno Felix and João Félix, and the English players too, although it's a pity Kobe didn't get as much playing time as we hoped. Morae's Morocco team, you know, we had a lot of representatives, Lee Jae-sung made it all the way to the final. Everyone had some good performances."

Ferdinand said: "I'm more worried about injuries. I just hope they all stay healthy. I hope they all play well, but don't get injured. As a Manchester United fan, that's what I care about most when you watch the World Cup."

When asked if there were any players he felt would be a good fit for Manchester United, he said: "A lot, isn't there? Players like Leom are obvious. And Dean Mendy, who ended up at Real Madrid, I remember the transfer fee was around 140 million euros, which is outrageous, but he was truly exceptionally talented. I could go on and on. In short, there are many players who, just by looking at them, make you think, 'I really wish Manchester United had him.' You know what I mean?"

He added: "But Manchester United had to be shrewd and cost-effective in this transfer window, and I think they certainly did. What do you think of the deals we made, especially the signings of Andre Santos and Tielemans to strengthen the midfield?"

Ferdinand said: "I think so. Casemiro has a serious long-term injury, and after Casemiro, who is influential in scoring goals, left the team, you need a signing to make people feel, 'I can see someone taking over this position,' even if it's in a different way. I think Tielemans was the captain of the Belgian team, and it was the same when De Bruyne was absent. Courtois and many other big-name players were in that team, and he always wore the captain's armband."

He said: "This is the right person. From what I've heard, everyone who has worked with him speaks highly of him. Johnny Evans played with him at Leicester City for four years and said he's a true professional. I think we've signed a player with the right qualities who has already adapted to the Premier League."

Ferdinand said: "And just as important as all of that, he can play football. £350,000 is a steal. I think it was a very good deal, and there wasn't much media hype. I also think Santos will develop into the kind of player that makes people ask, 'How did we manage to snatch him from Chelsea?'"

He added, "I think he will be very important in the next few years. From what I've seen in the preseason so far, he looks like a very comfortable and calm player. I think both signings are very rational and good."

He also mentioned, "Of course, we also brought in Kyle Dalow to strengthen the goalkeeper position." Ferdinand said, "Another player from Leeds United, the connection is really strong."

When discussing the team's preseason performance, he said, "We've seen more of André Santos playing because he didn't go to the World Cup. Tielemans only had a trial run in the last game against Paris Saint-Germain. But based on what you've seen on the pitch in the preseason, are you satisfied with the team's overall build-up and improved fitness?"

He replied, "Of course. I mean, Ian and Booma are scoring goals, he's already scored three. When I watch him, I think, this is a player I'd rather not play against. Many players have traits you don't want to face, but I think among the new signings, look at Tielemans' performance against Paris Saint-Germain, he passes forward, has confidence on the ball, and communicates very well. I watched training today, and he has excellent communication skills; he's not just looking out for himself, but also helping others."

Ferdinand continued: "And as I said before, Santos looks like he's already been here for a season. He's integrated quickly, very intelligent, and his defensive positioning is excellent. I think they'll be very good players in this squad. But I've also seen some young players, like Shea Lesi, who played very well in preseason. If he was previously considered a 50/50 player by the manager, I think the manager would now strongly consider keeping him around because he can complement what we have, not just as a winger, but also as the number 10 he played in the penalty he won against Atletico Madrid."

He said: "I think he's proving himself. And equally important, he's good off the ball and willing to contribute defensively. I think that willingness to defend is a very important part of Michael Carrick's team. Carrick's team is indeed based on players scoring goals and Bruno and others getting the ball to the right places, but I think the most important thing is how they work off the ball. That's extremely important, and it's because of that that we've gone from the situation when he took over to third in the league."