Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has sent a clear message about former United winger Anthony Elanga as he continues to impress in the Premier League.

The 22-year-old completed a transfer from Old Trafford to Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2023. The Reds received £15 million from the sale.

He has gone on to become a key player under Nuno Espirito Santo this season, helping Forest to be challenging towards the top of the table. The Sweden international provided an assist in Forest’s 1-1 draw against Liverpool on Tuesday night.

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It was the sixth Premier League game in a row where Elanga has either scored or assisted. It’s a run he will look to continue when Forest take on Southampton at the City Ground on Sunday afternoon.

Elanga’s performances have led to questions over if United were right to cash in on the winger when they did. After coming through the youth teams at Old Trafford, he played 55 games for United, scoring four goals and providing a further four assists.

Ahead of the game against Liverpool, Ferdinand interviewed Elanga, where he opened up on leaving United. “At Man United I felt like I was playing for the sake of playing,” he said.

“I want to find ways to learn and improve and coming to a different team, a different type of status and stuff allowed me to properly find ways to improve.

“I feel like here is a really, really big family club that everyone is really together, I’m not saying we weren’t together at United, but I’m saying here we’re really, really together and it’s showing on the pitch aswell.”

Sharing the clip of the interview for TNT Sport on his Instagram story, Ferdinand added a caption reading: “Loved doing this…humble guy who’s shining right now!

“Just wants to work hard, improve and rack up more numbers. Love to see it. @anthonyelanga.”

The draw against Liverpool leave Forest and Elanga in second place in the Premier League table, six points behind the league leaders. Both Arsenal in third, and Liverpool in first, do however have a game in hand over them.