Rooney heading for the exit
After almost nine years at Old Trafford and nearly 200 goals in
all competitions for the Red Devils, is star forward Wayne Rooney now surplus
to requirements?
He was benched by Sir Alex Ferguson for last night’s huge European
tie against Real Madrid with tactical issues used as the reason for the
decision.
That may well have been the case yesterday evening, but Rooney would
have been viewed as a vital part of the starting line-up for such a big match
up until this season. Whatever tactics the manager wanted to employ would have centred
on Rooney in the first eleven and the manager’s pre-match comments about the
striker’s lack of sharpness only served to further muddy the waters regarding
Rooney’s future.
The former Everton dynamo has certainly had ups and downs during
his time in Manchester, not least when he dallied over signing a new deal at
the club in 2010. That he eventually signed the five-year contract seemed to calm the
simmering tension created by a public spat between manager and player that had
threatened to push Rooney abroad or even to local rivals Manchester City.
However, the latest episode in the saga suggests that United could finally be
ready to part ways with the England international when the summer transfer
window swings open again at the season’s end.
If Rooney is deemed less valuable to the side than the fast-improving
Welbeck and prolific Dutchman Robin Van Persie that would surely signal the end
for the 27-year-old at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’. Rooney won’t be content to sit
on the bench and would walk into most top sides in Europe with the likes of
Manchester City, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Barcelona all
able to pay the required transfer fee to prise him away from United. It remains
to be seen which of those clubs would be interested in the front-man, but
surely at least two of the aforementioned names would throw their money at the
Old Trafford outfit if Fergie made him available.
Last night’s omission from the starting line-up will have hurt
Rooney greatly, as he will feel that he could have helped United to progress
had he been on from the beginning. His demotion from the level of irreplaceable
forward to bench-warmer smacks of the treatment given to David Beckham before he
left for Real Madrid in 2003. Could Rooney be headed down the same path?
Ferguson’s been a master of renewal over his many years in charge and
the Scotsman has no qualms with moving people on when he feels the need to
refresh his squad. This evolution is fuelled partly by the quality of players
that come through the academy ranks, such as Welbeck, allowing the manager to make
money on more established stars. He can then bolster his options with quality signings
that he believes will add fresh motivation to the side; Robin Van Persie is a
prime example.
United no longer rely on Rooney and it would appear time is up for
the fiery forward at Old Trafford.
You can follow me on Twitter: @davewh1980
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