Wayne Rooney has been a hot topic this season, although it hasn’t been because of his contributions for Manchester United.
Rooney has always been a key player for the Old Trafford outfit, but things have changed this season. The prolific scorer has taken a secondary role under Jose Mourinho’s tutelage, and he’s not likely to return to the starting XI any time soon. It’s clear “The Special One” prefers the likes of Juan Mata, Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Henrik Mhkitaryan behind a lone striker, which is usually Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Marcus Rashford.
It seems Rooney doesn’t have space on United’s team anymore, and many have asked why he’s still with the team. This demonstrates the popular notion that fans have a short-term memory. Sure, this hasn’t been Rooney’s best season. And it’s clear he’s starting to decline. But to release him and practically give him away to another club? It’s not like he forgot how to play. It seems this is the classic case where the manager has different options available. But Rooney should remain with the team.
This season, the club’s all-time leading scorer has netted only five goals in 29 games across all competitions. But while he has taken a backseat in the goals department, he has contributed with 10 assists. It’s not like he hasn’t been valuable – it’s just that he’s adjusting to a new role.
Sure, many believe Rooney should either remain in the starting lineup or leave the club under the argument of “he’s a legend and shouldn’t be on the bench”. But Rooney is a competitor and he’s going to give up. Plus, the fact that he’s on the bench illustrates the team’s depth on the attack. Zlatan might not get any younger, but the rest of the attacking core doesn’t reach the 30-year-old mark yet. And Rooney’s experience could be key for younger players like Pogba – who will eventually become the leader on the team – and Rashford – who will likely take his place both in United and the England National Team.
There have been a lot of rumors regarding Rooney’s future. He could move to another Top 5 league, as Inter Milan have expressed interest in signing him several times. Or perhaps he could move to China, automatically becoming the league’s top player. Another option could be signing with another Premier League, like Arsenal or Everton. And the MLS has always been interested in Rooney, too. So if he leaves United, he will still have plenty of suitors.
But he shouldn’t leave. He might not play as much as he would like, but he’s an important part of the team. And he’ll remain like that because he’s an absolute legend at Old Trafford. And club idols don’t leave the team through the back door.