Recently retired Arsenal legend Kelly Smith believes it no longer makes sense for Manchester United to not have a women’s team, putting pressure on the club on Monday to finally start one.

Football for girls stops at 16 for United, with aspiring players having to forge their career at neighbours City or travel further to Everton or Liverpool.

For the club, the reason in the past has been it is not commercially viable but with the continued growth of the women’s game, players from rival clubs no longer believe that is a good enough excuse and see it as “disappointing” that one of the most iconic clubs in men’s football are behind the times when it comes to the women’s game.

Speaking at the FA’s strategy for women’s and girls’ football launch, Smith said that United have been left behind by the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal and they must surely create a team to compete in the Women’s Premier or Super League sooner rather than later.

Smith said: “Arsenal have been at the forefront of the game for over 20 years. They have backed it financially and put their money where their mouth is.

“Other teams along the way have realised that. City have now overtaken Arsenal, in terms of the backing, Chelsea and Liverpool have come on board and United have been left behind.

“They don’t have a women’s team which is disappointing as they are still a big powerhouse within men’s football and for me it doesn’t make sense.

“They have youth programmes for girls and yet when a United player gets to 16, they have to jump across to City — they are feeding their rivals.

“At some point they are going to realise that and set up a team.”

City have taken the Women’s Super League by storm, winning the title last season without losing a game and are heavy favourites to retain their title when the season kicks off in September.

That success has only placed more scrutiny on United, who disbanded their women’s team in 2005 and have no plans to revive the squad in the near future.

Current Arsenal and England defender Alex Scott added to the growing number of voices and called on the Manchester club to jump on board, saying it is a “no brainer.”

“It is disappointing because when you look at all the top teams now, what Man City have done as well as what Arsenal have been doing for years and years, you want Manchester United to have a team and get on board,” she said.

“For us, it is a no brainer. It is an opportunity missed for them”.