Danny Welbeck reveals he is part of a WhatsApp group for ex-Man United players, as he names the club legend ‘in charge’ of the chat amid Red Devils’ dismal start to the season

Danny Welbeck has admitted he is part of a WhatsApp group for former Manchester United players.

Welbeck, 33, came through United’s academy before breaking into the first team and went on to win two Premier League titles before joining Arsenal in 2014.

Despite leaving the club a decade ago, Welbeck, who now plays for Brighton, has revealed he is still attached to his boyhood team along with a host of famous names from United’s golden era under Sir Alex Ferguson. 

Opening up on his time at United, Welbeck told Sky Sports: ‘Training sessions at United when you get into the first team, those sessions were actually harder than the games that we’d be playing at the weekend because it was so intense.’

He was then asked who the worst trainer in the team was, to which he replied: ‘I’m in a WhatsApp group! There’ll be a few people that won’t be happy if I mention their names.’

He has revealed that club legend Rio Ferdinand (fifth right) is ‘in charge’ of the chat

Former United stars have not been afraid to criticise the club in recent years, with the team having failed to win a league title since Ferguson retired in 2013. 

They are not shy in giving their outspoken views, and Welbeck was happy to name the group’s admin after being asked who was ‘in charge’ of the chat.

‘I think it might be Rio,’ Welbeck added. ‘He just chats, doesn’t he? He loves it and he’s making a career out of talking now. But we give him a lot of stick too.’

Since hanging up his boots in 2015, Ferdinand, who won six league titles and the Champions League at Old Trafford, has moved into punditry for TNT Sports, and also has his own YouTube channel where he regularly vents his frustrations about United’s current plight. 

Another former United player, Ashley Young, spoke about the infamous WhatsApp group back in May, revealing that the group had questioned United’s recruitment after the club finished down in eighth place last season.

Things have not got any better at the start of this term, with United down in 14th and yet to win in Europe.

This led to Erik ten Hag losing his job on Monday, and he is widely expected to be replaced by Ruben Amorim following the November international break.

Ferdinand is now a pundit for TNT Sports and regularly vents his frustrations about United

Ashley Young previously revealed the group has been used by ex-United stars to criticise the club’s recruitment

United’s recruitment has remained questionable and the club have endured a dismal start to the season, leading to Erik ten Hag being sacked this week

Another United icon, Ruud van Nistelrooy, has been placed in interim charge while the Amorim deal is finalised, although there is no suggestion that he is involved in the WhatsApp group.

There has been plenty for the WhatsApp group to get their teeth into in recent weeks, with results on the pitch not going United’s way, while many of their summer signings have failed to hit the ground running.

They will hope a change of manager brings a change of fortunes, with the Red Devils set to return to action against Chelsea on Sunday.