AliousGary Neville remains convinced that Danny Welbeck still possesses the quality to play for Manchester United and continues to question why the club let him go in 2014.
Now 34, Welbeck played a starring role in Brighton’s dominant 3-0 win over Chelsea at the Amex Stadium, making his 19th Premier League appearance of the season. The former United and Arsenal forward put on a masterclass in movement and link-up play, constantly stretching Chelsea’s defense and giving Levi Colwill and Trevoh Chalobah a nightmare evening. His intelligent positioning and physicality allowed Brighton to play with greater fluidity in attack.
Welbeck was instrumental in Brighton’s success on the night, registering two assists for Yankuba Minteh’s goals. His overall tally for the season now stands at six goals and five assists, underlining his importance to the Seagulls, who sit 10th in the Premier League table. When fit and firing, Welbeck significantly elevates Brighton’s attacking threat, something Neville was quick to highlight.
The former United defender has long maintained that the club made a mistake selling Welbeck during Louis van Gaal’s tenure. Despite speculation linking Welbeck with a return to Old Trafford under Erik ten Hag last summer, no move materialized. Neville, however, remains adamant that the forward was unfairly written off.
“The idea that he wasn’t good enough for Manchester United is absolute nonsense,” Neville said. “He would’ve been perfect as one of three or four strikers. He’s still tearing apart defenses—just look at what he did to Colwill and Chalobah.”
Neville went on to suggest that Welbeck was a victim of Van Gaal’s rigid tactical approach. “Van Gaal’s style was very precise, and Danny didn’t quite fit into that at the time, so he was let go. But in reality, he’s almost tailor-made for how United should play—making runs in behind and linking up with attacking players.”
Since leaving United, Welbeck has carved out a solid career despite injury setbacks. After stints with Arsenal and Watford, he joined Brighton on a free transfer in 2020. Across 148 appearances for the Seagulls, he has registered 32 goals and 12 assists. His Manchester United record stood at 29 goals and 16 assists in 142 games, while he netted 32 times in 126 matches for Arsenal.
Welbeck remains under contract with Brighton until June 2026, but his performances continue to serve as a reminder of what Manchester United may have lost when they decided to move on from their academy graduate.
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