FORMER BARCELONA MIDFIELDER Xavi believes Wayne Rooney must drop into midfield if he wants to prolong his career with Manchester United in the Premier League.
Rooney has failed to impress for United this season, scoring just two Premier League goals in nine appearances, raising doubts over the captain’s ability to lead the line in Manchester.
World Cup winner Xavi, who left Barca for Qatari outfit Al Sadd in the off-season, believes it is time for the 30-year-old to play a deeper role.
“Personally I think Rooney still has much to offer, but maybe it’s time for him to adapt,” Xavi said.
“You get to an age and you can’t play the game you once used to, you can’t cover the ground you used to.
“But intelligent players adapt and there’s no doubting Rooney has a very good footballing brain.
“Maybe it’s time for a new striker at Manchester United, who can run for 90 minutes, but Rooney would be very dangerous in a deeper role. He has the vision and the passing range to play that role very well.
“If he can adapt, there’s no reason why he can’t play at the top level for another five or six seasons.
“But as a player you must admit to yourself your body is changing and can’t do what it used to be able to do.”
Xavi, who played under United manager Louis van Gaal when the Dutchman was at Barcelona, knows he can be ruthless no matter how big of a name you are.
“Wayne Rooney is a player I have admired for a long time,” the Spaniard added. “He is an extraordinary player with extraordinary capabilities.
“Van Gaal does not respect names though. It doesn’t matter if you are the best player in the world, if he wants to drop you from the team, then he will drop you from the team.
“I respect and like Van Gaal because he is honest and direct, and I like to deal with people like that, but it can be hard to listen to his harsh criticism at times. But if you do, it will ultimately improve you.”
Last of the United greats
@John Harte: that header at stoke
@John Harte: A very likeable player.
Staying and scoring 40 goal’s is that before, during or after the tantrum ‘s?
On Fergie, no other Utd manager will get the same disproportionate financial advantage as Fergie had. He robbed Villa and Spurs of their best player’s. With all the money all PL club’s get that advantage has been eroded. Furthermore, the top 4 all get greater money in CL qualification than available 10 year’s ago. Therefore, if Utd can’t qualify the financial advantage they used to have gets eroded even further. The problem is the expectation of their fan’s versus the new reality.
@Daniel Kelly: you are talking absolutely bs, 1st regards taking villa/spurs best players jesus you would think utd absolutely drained them throughout the years, Sheringham, berbatov,Carrick,Yorke with villa, who else?? That’s in nearly 25yrs..To this day all the top clubs have and are still buying the best players from the lesser clubs it has always happened and yes champions lge money helps give your head a good wobble there its not as if fergie or utd created this..
@Pauly Kel: Just like Big Jack Charlton had the best crop of Irish player’s ever…. Fergie had a financial stranglehold on the PL with revenues exceeding all other club’s. He plundered the above plus West Ham, Leeds, Forrest, Wigan et al for their best player’s. My point stands Kane ain’t swapping Spurs now for old toilet! Thanks for listening……
He is still there!