Rooney gives United a boost
Print Edition
Manchester United’s season of turmoil received another huge lift when England striker Wayne Rooney committed his future to the English Premier League champion on Friday.
Languishing seventh in the table after a stuttering campaign under new manager David Moyes, United’s prospects of turning things round improved significantly when Rooney signed a four-year contract extension at Old Trafford.
Close to leaving in 2010 and wooed strongly by Chelsea last year, the 28-year-old has been in excellent form, dispelling doubts about his fitness which surfaced under former manager Alex Ferguson last season to score nine league goals.
It was widely expected that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho would revive his bid to recruit Rooney at the end of the campaign but the former Everton forward has decided to try to write his name into United folklore by breaking Bobby Charlton’s club scoring record.
“This is definitely something I would like to achieve,” Rooney told the United website.
“If I managed to do it it’d be something I’d be very proud of. My aim is always to score and create as many goals as possible, so if I can continue to score regularly and break the record then I would be delighted.”
Rooney has netted 208 goals for United in 430 games, 41 fewer than England World Cup winner Charlton, and his continuing presence will be a relief for Moyes who made another important move by signing Spain midfielder Juan Mata from Chelsea last month.
Rooney, who reports say is now the highest paid player in the Premier League, has won five league titles with United since joining from Everton in 2004 as well as the 2008 Champions League and Club World Cup, and two League Cups.
“They’ve just put their money where their mouth is by bringing in Mata, now it’s time to re-build the team around these key players and get back towards the top of the Premier League,” former England midfielder Jamie Redknapp told Sky Sports.
“The important thing is that he’s staying. At the moment there’s only four or five in that United squad who David Moyes thinks ‘you’re the type of player I want’ — and Rooney is one of those.”
With Mata and Rooney signed up, Moyes can turn his attentions to the further rebuilding which is so obviously required as he struggles to qualify United for next season’s Champions League.
Central defender and captain Nemanja Vidic is leaving at the end of the season and his long-time partner Rio Ferdinand is also likely to move on.
Experience will be in short supply when Vidic, Ferdinand and, possibly, Patrice Evra leave the club and Moyes needs proven United warriors like Rooney if he is to turn things round.
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