The Wayne Rooney leaving Manchester United exit rumours continue to rumble on. Paris St. Germain are clearly interested in signing Rooney who seems as though he wants a new deal at Old Trafford. Sir Alex Ferguson seems to be sidelining Rooney more and more and it would be perfectly understandable if he chose to get rid of the England striker.
When Wayne Rooney signed for Manchester United from Everton as an 18 year old, he was the hottest property in British football. Powerful, stocky, quick and skilful he looked to have the world at his feet. He made an immediate impact, scoring a hat trick on his debut. Rooney was a precocious talent and fitted in perfectly at Old Trafford.
He won his first Premier League title with United in 2007 where he had starred in a supporting role to the phenomenal Cristiano Ronaldo. The same was true the next season, where United boasted an incredible attack of Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez. That year United claimed the Champions League and Rooney’s star continued to shine. In 2009, after United had clinched their third consecutive Premier League and lost in the final of the Champions League to Barcelona, Ronaldo and Tevez left the club. Suddenly Wayne Rooney was no longer the support act; he was the main man.
He stepped up to the mark with easily his most productive season for United, who lost out to Chelsea in the Premier League title race. His World Cup campaign however was jeopardised when he twisted his ankle in the Champions League. He was never really fit for the tournament and this was a big setback for club and country.
Rooney now knew he was the key player for United and would go on to show that in the next season. Rooney criticised the clubs signings, claiming they could not match his ambitions. Ferguson slammed Rooney in the press and Rooney backed down, but not before making himself the clubs top earner, on bumper wages in excess of £200,000 a week.
He has since never justified those wages. Rooney is not the player he threatened to be as a young man. He has never really lived up to the hype. His influence over games is minimal and in big games he invariably goes missing. Added to this his apparent lack of fitness. Ferguson claims he needs two or three games to get match fitness after only one or two weeks off. This shouldn’t be the case. It is fair therefore to question Rooney’s dedication and application. When contrasted to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, who dedicated himself to being the fittest, most talented player he could. We have never seen this level of dedication from Rooney.
Right now, Rooney is not the main man at Manchester United. The club look destined for a twentieth League title and Rooney has not played a massive part in that. Robin van Persie has become the talisman and Rooney is back in that role as support player. With Danny Welbeck, Javier Hernandez and Shinji Kagawa showing better form that Rooney he is increasingly being left out and substituted. He is no longer a first choice pick.
Wayne Rooney has believed his own hype. He has not applied himself to his career and as a result has not lived up to his potential. Now he is a player who has one good game in five, lacks pace, penetration and poise. His first touch is sadly lacking and his all round game is well below where it should be in these supposed ‘peak’ years of his career. If Paris St. Germain, or anyone else are willing to pay in excess of £20 million for Rooney, Manchester United should snap their hands off. The Red Devils would be no weaker for his loss, and the money received from his sale could be used to bring in a player who could make a real contribution to Manchester United success. Wayne Rooney is no longer that man. It is time to let him go.
