‘Release a man’: Rio Ferdinand unhappy at Tottenham 26-year-old’s situation

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Rio Ferdinand wants Tottenham Hotspur playmaker James Maddison ‘released’ by England manager, Gareth Southgate.

On Saturday, England recorded a 1-1 draw against Ukraine in their Euro 2024 qualifier, with Gareth Southgate playing James Maddison out on the left wing.

Southgate’s call to start Jordan Henderson in the middle of the park, alongside Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice, didn’t sit well with Ferdinand because he wanted Tottenham’s new star ‘released’ as a number ten, as he told Vibe with Five.

It could be argued that, during the early stages of the new Premier League season, Maddison has been one of the form English players.

The 26-year-old has two goals and two assists to his name, as a new-look Ange Postecoglou side are playing some of the best football in the league and are unbeaten.

Whilst Southgate handed Maddison a start, what annoyed people the most was the former Leicester City man playing out on the left and not behind the striker.

James Maddison at England

“Even the selection of the team,” said Ferdinand. “With Jordan Henderson, what more are you going to learn out of Jordan Henderson?

“You have Bellingham, a player who plays beyond his years. Declan Rice. Experienced, won in Europe and now at Arsenal as a £100 million player. What more experience do you want in there? 

“There is Maddison. He has gone to a new club at Spurs. On fire. That position alongside those guys is a perfect chance to see him play.

“Maddison is playing left-wing! Release a man like Maddison to be the number ten and give us that extra attacking flair to unlock when we are playing the bigger teams and give us that extra body to play in deeper areas to give us ball retention (against the so-called lesser sides).”

Maddison is now an England regular

It needs to be remembered that, before the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Maddison had spent a few years out of the picture under Southgate at England.

Despite suffering relegation with Leicester City, he still scored enough goals last season to knock the door down and earn that ticket to Qatar.

And since then, he has been picked on a regular basis, it’s just a case of the front-footed player now playing in his proper position, rather than being pushed out wide.