Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has claimed the club 'mishandled' Wilfried Zaha.

The Ivory Coast international was David Moyes' first signing in 2013 when he arrived from Crystal Palace for £10m.

But he would struggle for playing time and returned to Selhurst Park two years later.

Zaha also dealt with rumours about a relationship with Moyes' daughter, Lauren, which did not help him settle at Old Trafford.

Former defender United defender Ferdinand tweeted: "Wilfried Zaha was mishandled by #MUFC I believe… although the club had started a big transition & as a Snr player I should of done more to help him!"

On the rumours about Moyes' daughter, Ferdinand added: "No one at the club at all told me anything, I didn't know what to do whatsoever.

"I remember tweeting something about it saying 'silly rumours' because it was getting too much so I had to say something myself and then I remember the club media messaging me saying 'you shouldn't have done that, you shouldn't have done this' and I'm thinking you haven't helped me.

"I'm here by myself, struggling because people are telling me I've slept with the manager's daughter and that's why you're not playing me.

"The funny thing is, it's carried on for so long I felt like, is the manager not going to come and have a word with me over this?

"That's how I felt and I'm thinking this is ridiculous man. Up to this day I still get people that think that's true and I've never even met his daughter."