The Red Devils had underwhelmed in the Premier League last season, finishing 15th and also losing out on their chance to get to the Champions League after Tottenham Hotspur defeated them in the Europa Leage final, and Ferdinand, 46, has now said he would have a difficult time at Manchester Untied if he were playing there at the moment.

Speaking with talkSPORT, he said: “The likes of myself, Nemanja Vidic, the Roy Keanes and the Giggsys [Giggs] - they'd struggle here.

“It is hard to be under that pressure where you can't see a result coming around the corner or where you can't see consistency.

“All of us would struggle in this environment, but they've got to build something together that is going to be unique in Manchester United’s history.”

Ferdinand - who played for Manchester United from 2002 to 2014 - added he was particularly concerned about the beginning of the Premier League for the Red Devils.

He said: “I am worried about the first six games of the season. It's a hard start.

“I think [it's] Liverpool, [Manchester] City, Arsenal on the first weekend of the season, so it is a very difficult start.

“All of that good work being done on the training field can be undone with a couple of bad results, and we know what it's like at Man United, the pressure that comes with it.

“The tension and the negativity spreads through, and it becomes a difficult place to be. I hope they get some decent results early on to steady the ship.”

Manchester United has so far had a strong summer transfer window, having signed RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo and Wolves’ Matheus Cunha.

The Red Devils are also interested in Brighton and Hove Albion’s Carlon Baleba, and could reportedly be looking at spending £100 million for the 21-year-old midfielder.

Even so, the Seagulls are said to be unwilling to part with Baleba - whose contract at the Amex Stadium expires in 2028 - given his impressive performance last season.