The big surprise in the United line-up last night against Real Madrid was that United’s talisman Wayne Rooney was not in the starting XI. When was the last time Rooney was dropped for a big game?
Asked about it before the match SAF seemed to imply that Rooney was not fit saying:
“Wayne Rooney needs a game or two. He did well in the second half against Norwich, but he looked like he needed a game.”
But Mike Phelan seemed to not be on the same page as the United boss saying after the game:
“Rooney was fit and ready to play, but big decisions have to be made.”
Based on Phelan’s comments, it seems that Rooney was dropped for the game. And if that is true, what does it say about the future of Wayne Rooney at United when he is dropped for the club’s biggest game since the 2011 Champions League final?
One ex-United player who has been down this path is former United captain Roy Keane who said in the ITV studio before the game that maybe Rooney’s time at Old Trafford is up.
“Maybe the writing is on the wall for him,” said Roy Keane. “We have to trust the manager a bit tonight but in terms of the way Wayne carried on in the last year of his [previous] contract, maybe he has decided to go about getting Robin van Persie up and running.”
Things between Rooney and SAF have never been the same since his transfer request a couple of years ago because he wanted to go to Man City.
Rooney is no longer the face of the club, that is Robin van Persie, and with persistant rumours that Ronaldo could be heading back to United this summer, the writing is on the wall that Wayne Rooney’s time at Old Trafford is coming to an end.
Unlike Arsenal with van Persie I cannot see Fergie selling Rooney to City or Chelsea. Which means he will have to go abroad. Could we see a Beckham to Rooney tandem at PSG next season? Or maybe Real Madrid in part exchange for Ronaldo?
Where do you think Wayne Rooney will be playing next season?
