Rooney Exit is Best for Everyone

On Alex Ferguson’s iconic final game in front of Old Trafford he decided to play Paul Scholes and drop Wayne Rooney from the team. Was this a symbolic move from the best manager perhaps football had ever seen? He said that he felt Rooney’s mind was elsewhere after he again expressed his desire to move from Old Trafford yet it appeared a more damming verdict on Rooney's time at United. Ferguson said he rejected his request and believes Rooney only needs to take some time to get his thoughts together yet as The Whitehouse Address will discuss, Rooney is a problem that new manager does not need.

Wayne Rooney was on the pitch for the coronation and was all smiles and song. He seemed genuinely happy. It was the same kind of celebration which came after confirming the title triumph against Aston Villa when he ran on the pitch and jumped on Van Persie. This was not a player who was unhappy and wishing for a move, in fact you would not even know there was a problem when looking at him. Yet footballers should be judged not on their celebrations but on their play and the truth is that in the past few months Wayne Rooney's performances have shown a player who is unhappy with life at Man United.

When Rooney broke on to the scene he appeared to have it all, and looked destined to become one of the best players in the world. At Euro 2004 he looked fast, skilful and ruthless in front of goal, the football world appeared at his mercy. A move to United appeared the perfect step up for this bright talent. And yet almost a decade later Rooney’s promise can be seen to have been unfulfilled. A career which promised so much has rarely seen him reach these heights, especially on a consistent basis.

Did Ferguson ruin his potential?

We could blame Alex Ferguson himself for Rooney’s failure to become world class. Ronaldo was chosen as the golden child when the two were young and Rooney became more of his supplier than the centrepiece of the team. Yes he was good, yet Ronaldo was given the licence and freedom to become the world’s best. Rooney was Robin to Batman. 

Could Ferguson have revolved that team around Rooney more and helped him progress to those levels which seemed so possible around 2004? Perhaps. Yet Ferguson thinks of the team and the club above individuals and his belief was that success would be more possible with Ronaldo as the main man. It is impossible to argue when we saw what United became. 

I have no doubt that Rooney suffered because he was in Ronaldo’s shadow for so long and he missed out on those key years of development which only a few select players truly get. Thus to now compare Messi and Ronaldo with Rooney is wrong. Add to the fact that Rooney has been seen more as a utility man, "Mr Universality" over a position specific specialist and once again you cannot help but point the blame at Ferguson. I mean there are not many of Rooney’s quality who are shuffled around on such a regular occurrence.

Perhaps it is because of Rooney’s overall quality that his manager has felt able to play him in such various positions, yet it has certainly not helped his progression to become world class. 

The fire of the outburst still lingers

In 2010 when he made his public outburst United were held to ransom to their only star. A year after losing Tevez and Ronaldo and replacing them with Owen and Valencia it was clear that United had dropped in terms of quality. In fairness to Rooney what he was saying was right yet the way he went about it was completely against the United way. 

You can guess how furious Ferguson was and perhaps even more angry that he had to keep his star player there because as mentioned Rooney was the star man and to lose him to City would be a tragic blow to United. No Rooney had to stay yet you have to imagine he was a marked man. Losing that battle would have stayed with Ferguson ever since. And it has showed. Yes Rooney has been a part of the United team since then however he has become less of the key player. 

For all the problems that there appears to be between Ferguson and Rooney United have ran away with the title this season. In fact this season has highlighted reasons why United do not need Rooney any longer. The signings of Van Persie and Kagawa immediately made people question “where is Rooney going to play?” and although Ferguson has done an excellent job of rotating his front players it is clear that Van Persie is the leader and main piece of the attack and Kagawa and Welbeck are now ready to play that supporting role. 

The games against Madrid proved as much; Ferguson opted for Kagawa in the first leg and Welbeck in the second, Rooney was merely seen as a functional defensive option in Madrid and not deemed needed in the second. The lesson was clear, if you cross Ferguson don’t think he will forget. In 2010-11 Ferguson needed Rooney, yet David Moyes in 2013 does not.

Rooney no longer needed

Ferguson has left Moyes with a very capable team where the young players in particular are beginning to blossom into something very special. Kagawa will be better next year and if he can get anywhere near the levels he had at Dortmund then United fans are in for a real treat. 

Yes Moyes will have to deal with an exodus of experience in the coming years for sure; Scholes is now gone, Giggs, Ferdinand, Evra and even Vidic may be following him in the coming seasons yet there is a core of young players who promise a bright future at Old Trafford.

The question for Moyes is, does Moyes and United need Rooney? Ferguson said that a 100%  fit and focused Rooney would play every minute yet I can’t help but think that he will never get back to 100% while at United and Ferguson knows this. The bridges between player and club are burning and about to fall. Two requests in three seasons to leave which have been rather public affairs appear a plea for help and release from an experience which has been successful and for the most part enjoyable for Rooney. 

He could have stayed all his career and become a legend like Scholes or Giggs, in fact I thought he could move into the Scholes role and become a world class deep lying playmaker, yet Rooney's inability to be the professional which United expects has been his downfall. He has been given many chances and allowances yet he appears unable to act the role which United require. This situation has striking similarities with Beckham's final years at Old Trafford. 

United are bigger than any player and Ferguson has proved ruthless in the past with getting rid of some excellent players; Ince, Keane, Stam, Beckham and Van Nistelrooy in particular. United continued to succeed in these players absence and there is no reason to doubt that United will not be able to deal without Rooney. 

In fact it is best if he leaves Old Trafford this summer and soon. Moyes will want to come in to a club without the cloud and media speculation of Rooney over him and his start. I cannot imagine Rooney making it easy and in terms of football Moyes needs to explain to Rooney that he could not provide him with the role he craves. A Van Persie/Kagawa partnership offers more promise and less drama and with Welbeck and Hernandez seeking more playing time, Rooney staying only makes it harder for Moyes. 

It is time to admit that Rooney’s time at United is now at an end. Perhaps he has stayed longer than he should have already. Yet before this season United have needed him yet now they can consider him dispensable. It reminds me of Ronaldinho and Barcelona in 2008, he had two seasons prior where he lost his form and drive and Guardiola knew that in order for the team to progress the Brazilian must go. It is not hard to see similarities with this situation. 

Where he will go? United will not sell him to an English side, they are not Arsenal. And to be honest Rooney’s fee and wages may put off certain clubs yet don’t be surprised to see him move to either Madrid or Paris this summer.

I said last season that Rooney needs to leave United for his own development and potential to be reached and that moving to the continent would be ideal for him. It may be the best decision he could make, a new lease of life to galvanise his present slump and clear lack of enjoyment. It will certainly help him and England too. 

United will pocket a good chunk of money and open up £200k in wages also. It is really a positive deal for all parties. Both have helped each other and being successful in their time together yet like some relationships  you have to know when to call it quits and that time is certainly upon Rooney and United now. 

The Whitehouse Address @The_W_Address