​Manchester United great Rio Ferdinand wants England manager Gareth Southgate to pick Michael Carrick in the England squad going to the World Cup. 


The 36-year-old midfielder has already announced his decision to retire at the end of the season and has started transitioning to his coaching role next season by sitting on the bench as a coach for United's 2-0 ​win over Swansea.


The Englishman has not played for the national team since 2015 and has featured only four times this season for the Red Devils. He played just 36 times for the Three Lions between 2001 and 2015, and wasn't picked on a regular basis by England managers.


Talking on BT Sport, as per ​Manchester Evening News, Ferdinand said, "He got disgruntled with the English managers who have shown him no respect over the years." 


"When we were asking for players who could pass the ball through midfield quickly through to the attackers who would then be a danger who could do it quickly in not three or four touches, he could do it in one or two touches," the former defender added. 


The footballer-turned-pundit continued, "He was undervalued 100% he should have had more caps, he would have added balance to the team. He would be the first one in the team now even given his age - if he was Italian he would still be playing." 


Ferdinand, who was Carrick's team-mate, concluded by saying, "They would still be saying he's a leader hes experienced he can play the ball in the right way, he's one of the fundamentals we want in our team. Gareth Southgate would cry out for a player like Carrick."