It seems Manchester United are trying to fight the rumors about Wayne Rooney handing in a transfer request, but according to his twitter account, he’s no longer a player for them, only a Nike footballer. There have been plenty of teams linked to the star player this season, and according to reports in Spain, Barcelona will be one of those trying to sign him this summer.
On what are these reports based? Barcelona are going to make certain changes in their attacking lineup this season, with David Villa possibly leaving, and he might not be the only one. Someone of high caliber is going to arrive, and if it’s not Neymar, which the team, along with half of the big clubs in Europe, has been chasing for the better part of the last two years, Wayne Rooney might be a candidate.
Why? Because Tito Vilanova has expressed his admiration for the player more than once, and especially before the Champions League finals the two teams played in 2009 and 2011. Things have changed since then, and some would say Rooney has dipped in his form. He has scored 12 league goals, adding 10 assists this season, which has been about accepting a new role on the pitch – a more tactical one, while having his own demons and arguments with the manager.
Now that Alex Ferguson is gone, there is no one powerful enough to persuade Rooney to stay with the club. David Moyes and him don’t see eye to eye, and with the arrival of the younger Scotsman, Rooney doesn’t feel like there’s much for him to stay for. Rooney has been dropped out of the lineup more than once this season at weird timings, none greater than when Manchester United played Real Madrid in the champions league.
Rooney has scored 141 goals in the Premier League since joining from Everton in 2003, and despite the rumors of his struggles with fitness and off the field lifestyle has often been one of the more active and hard working players on the pitch. He can play multiple positions, even as a central midfielder if asked to. Barcelona, or any other top club, can make do with such a player, probably coming at a price of £25 million, if they do not fear that his best days are behind him.