Can Moyes convince Rooney to stay by the end of this week?

David_Moyes
David_Moyes

Wayne Rooney

Reports are suggesting that Wayne Rooney’s future at Manchester United could rest on talks with new manager David Moyes this week.

Rooney is set to return from holiday and it will be the first thing Moyes will want to strike off of his list ahead of officially starting his position as United’s new boss this time next week.

Rooney’s future at Manchester United has been up in the air ever since he handed in that second transfer request at the back end of last season.

However, the issue he seemed to have with the club came in the form of Sir Alex Ferguson which means Moyes could now encourage him into making a new and fresh start with the current champions.

Rooney seemed to have issues with the way he was played last season, often used in midfield roles and left out of the side for Robin van Persie when the bigger matches required a 4-5-1 formation.

That’s a worry that Moyes can easily address, especially when United go into games needing to use two strikers up front because Rooney will always be in the top two bracket when it comes to forwards at the club.

Rooney is also good enough to naturally know when to drop off from the attack and link up with the midfield.

persie-rooney

It’s not a negative job that Moyes could ask him to do, it’s something he does naturally. His issues seem to come when he’s asked to play as strictly a midfielder, not given the licence to go and play where he likes in attack at the same time.

It’s very important that Moyes can get a grip on the situation this week because of the fact that transfer window opens next Monday, at the same time he starts his new job.

If Rooney is still insistent on leaving, that means some big sides will start sending officials and agents over to England to worm away in the background, giving them a chance of signing the United attacker.

The meetings this week can only go one of two ways; Moyes can convince Rooney to stay at the club and win back the fans and officials or he can maintain his desire to leave.

The fact Ferguson has retired is very significant because the former United boss is not the sort of manager or person who would give Rooney a second chance in the way that Moyes should.

If you crossed Ferguson, you were out of the side and he had no issues at all in terms of leaving Rooney out last year.

The personal issues which existed between Rooney and Moyes, relating to the former’s book, are done and dusted and this is purely about football.

United will want to wrap the situation up one way or another which can allow them to plan for a title defence with Rooney in the side or look to find a replacement for him as quickly as possible.

To keep an eye on Rooney’s future, use the Premier League transfers page.

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