'World-class' Serge Gnabry has proven Arsenal were wrong to discard Bayern star, says Rio Ferdinand

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Matt Davies19 August 2020

Rio Ferdinand believes Serge Gnabry has transformed into a "world-class" player after his double helped Bayern Munich progress to the Champions League final.

The German's two goals put him on 23 for the season with 13 assists, and he has also now scored nine goals as many matches in the Champions League, securing the Man of the Match award as a result of another fine performance.

It is quite a contrast to his situation five years ago when Gnabry, then just 20-years-old, managed just 135 minutes in three appearances while on loan at West Brom, with manager Tony Pulis stating the Arsenal man wasn't "at the level" required to play for his side.

A year later and Arsenal sold Gnabry to Werder Bremen for just £5 million before he rejuvenated his career in Germany to earn a move to Bayern in 2017.

Ferdinand, working as a pundit for BT Sport alongside Owen Hargreaves, heaped praise on the winger - insisting he has now proved himself as one of the world's best players.

Gnabry has now scored nine goals in nine Champions League games  Photo: Getty Images
Getty Images

"If you can get around 20 goals and 10 plus assists, you are sitting at the top level, a world-class wide man," Ferdinand said.

"He looks a well-educated player, does all the right things with and without the ball.

"He's got to be one of the most improved players in football at the moment. In terms of his trajectory, From where he was being discarded by Arsenal and West Brom to where he is now, wow."

Speaking after Bayern had booked a place in Sunday's final against Paris Saint-Germain, Hargreaves claimed the 25-year-old's abilities are still underrated.

"He's a fabulous player," Hargreaves added. "His finishes, but also his end product.

"He doesn't get enough credit for his overall game. He makes good decisions, he's smart, knows when to run in behind.

"He's an unbelievable finisher, we saw it against Tottenham in London."

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