Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney handed in a transfer request towards the end of last season. Will he still be at Old Trafford next season?
Wayne Rooney’s situation at Manchester United is a confusing one. If you read any of the British tabloids, you will read conflicting reports.
The Sunday Mirror, states that Arsenal has made a £20million bid for the England star.
However, the People, a sister paper of the Mirror claims that Rooney is preparing to sign a new contract, but only on his current salary. It really is hard to understand whom to believe.
Meeting
David Moyes officially takes over as Manchester United boss tomorrow. One thing that seems certain is that the Scot will sit down and discuss Rooney’s future with the striker and his agent at some point in the next week.
It appears that Moyes wants the 27-year-old to stay at Old Trafford, despite the fact that at Everton the pair did not see eye-to-eye. In fact, Moyes sued Rooney over certain claims in the strikers’ autobiography.
It seems that the pair has now made up, and Rooney put in a transfer request prior to Moyes being announced as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor at Old Trafford. It remains to be seen what the meeting will achieve.
Second fiddle
Wayne Rooney played a second fiddle to fellow forward Robin van Persie at United last season. The Holland international was considered United’s first choice striker and Rooney was moved around into different positions.
Rooney has never complained about the fact that he is no longer the star turn at Old Trafford, but there is a sense that Rooney is happier when he is centre stage. It seems that Rooney is frustrated at Manchester United, because Van Persie is considered the star player.
However, it will be difficult for Rooney to find a club where is again centre stage, as only major clubs will be able to afford him. Those clubs already have their own star turns in situ.
Speculation
There has been major speculation about the strikers’ future. Rooney has been linked with a move to a number of clubs including United’s arch-rivals Manchester City. The two latest links are that Rooney could move to Arsenal or Barcelona.
Brazilian superstar Neymar, who has just joined Barcelona, has encouraged the England international to join him in Catalonia, after the Catalan giants were linked with a £25million move for the striker in the Spanish.
Everybody at Arsenal seems to have sung the praises of Rooney this summer, from boss Arsene Wenger to shareholder Ivan Gazidis. The Gunners have also stated that they could afford to purchase Rooney, if they wished.
Both these moves look very unlikely to me. Firstly, Barca have just signed a forward in the shape of Neymar, who is a different sort of player to Rooney, but is still a forward nevertheless. If Barcelona does strengthen their attack this summer, then I would have thought they would look at signing a number nine, not another number ten like Rooney.
Spanish international David Villa looks set to leave the Nou Camp this summer, with believed interest from Premier League clubs Arsenal and Tottenham. In a way, Neymar has already replaced Villa in the Barcelona squad .
It would be difficult for Rooney as he likes to operate in the same areas that the likes of Andres Iniesta, Neymar and Lionel Messi and it could get very messy (pardon the pun).
I do however believe that Rooney is probably the only English player with enough technical ability and football intelligence that would have a chance of making it at Barcelona. The only thing that could let him down is his mentality, which has been questioned at times throughout his career, with allegations of Rooney’s general fitness being poor.
A move to Arsenal would be a very interesting one for Rooney and Arsenal. The Gunners are in desperate need of a striker, with attacking options very limited at the Emirates. However, a bit like Barcelona I think the Gunners could do with an out-and-out striker, rather than a Rooney-type player.
However, I do believe that Rooney would be a good signing for Arsenal. He would be a first choice striker again and the move may give his career fresh impetus. The apparent impending arrival of Gonzalo Higuain from Real Madrid could scupper the deal though.
Staying
Where Wayne Rooney’s future lies will be dictated by what happens when the striker talks to new boss Moyes in the next week. Ironically, after all the talk of a big money move I believe that the striker is more likely to stay at Old Trafford and be playing for Manchester United next season than elsewhere.
Putting in the transfer request may just have been Rooney showing the fact that he does not feel appreciated at Old Trafford and just like the William Shakespeare play of the same name, the story could be Much Ado About Nothing.
Where will Wayne Rooney be playing his football next season?
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