Rio Ferdinand has claimed Dayot Upamecano has 'gone backwards' in a scathing review of the Bayern Munich-bound defender's performance against Liverpool in the Champions League.
Upamecano, 22, will leave RB Leipzig for Bundesliga champions Bayern at the end of the season, with the all-conquering Germans beating a host of European rivals to the signing of the £38.5m defender.
However, despite Liverpool's attackers being short of form, the Frenchman was unable to keep Mo Salah and Co at bay over two legs, with the Reds getting back on track with an excellent 4-0 aggregate win over Julian Nagelsmann's side.
Having been pulled out of position throughout the first leg of the tie, Upamecano was unable to make the necessary adjustments on Wednesday as Salah and Sadio Mane found the net to book the Reds' place in the quarter finals.
And former United defender Ferdinand highlighted Upamecano's poor defending in allowing Salah to cut inside on his left foot to score the second leg's opening goal, expressing concern for the youngster's dip in form.
'He's gone backwards,' Ferdinand said on BT Sport. 'Bayern Munich have bought him but he has gone backwards for me.
'That goal there was woeful defending, letting him back inside on his stronger foot. He is going to have to improve once he gets to Bayern I am telling you.'
It is not the first time Ferdinand has been critical of the 22-year-old, having described his performance in the first leg against Jurgen Klopp's Reds as 'horrendous'.
'The defenders for Leipzig were horrendous,' he told BT Sport last month.
'Upamecano has got a big reputation, just signed for Bayern Munich, horrendous he was today. He looked like he had already been in the Bayern dressing room it seemed.'
The Frenchman has been at the heart of Nagelsmann's defence this season, keeping 10 clean sheets in 21 league games as Leipzig trail Bundesliga leaders Bayern by just two points.
LetzDoDis
475
Except for that mistake Upamecano was so good i think these Epl pundits are just salty he snubbed some EPL clubs and joined Bayern
Takcdlnpty
453
hahaha epl pundits are out of their mind most of them they pray for liverpool to get bad result ...so yesterday if leipzig won they will say oh upamecano what a talent what a defender but when they lose they try to find minor reason to weakness liverpool
Mr2president
219
I watched the whole game with an eye specifically for upamecano s performance and I think he was actually their best player on the field. These pundits will sometimes just be completely wrong with their comments. the one real chance Leipzig had came from him going forward past Salah, Fabinho and TTA He literally shut off every pass to Salah and literally bullied him Our goal was just a defensive error on their part. This kid has the confidence, aggression and speed like VVD. I regret we didnt buy him