Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger predicted all along that Wayne Rooney would stay with Manchester United
When all schools of thought were reckoning that it is time for the world-class striker Wayne Rooney to leave Old Trafford due to the argument he had with his club Manchester United and their legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson,
it was the ‘Professor’, Arsène Wenger from North London, who declared that the 24-year-old striker was going nowhere.
In a time when audacious moves were being made to find a replacement for the English International, prominent characters in English football, especially those who had past occurrence like these or were linked to Manchester United,
gave the media a piece of their mind.
The general idea from all these statements regarding Rooney’s behaviour was that he was being childish, pompous, imprudent and irresponsible. It certainly was true that though Rooney had a right to express his opinion or make a
point if he was unhappy to notify the reservations he had, but to do so in a discreet manner was advisable so as not to harm the image of their charismatic gaffer Sir Alex Ferguson and the Red Devils, a club that has gathered a strong army of fans in recent
time.
With Rooney’s press conference in reply to Sir Alex and United’s, it had become clear that the player will soon be traded off to another club; however, following the shock news today that revealed that the ‘White Pele’ from Old
Trafford had committed to a 3-year-deal with the Red Devils, one does come to wonder if Rooney was foolish enough to play limbo with swords or was Ferguson devilishly clever to make the forward sign a deal of his death.
Earlier, reports had concluded that Rooney, an icon in English football, was not interested in signing an extension deal with the Manchester club. This had led football pundits to suggest that the player will be offloaded and one
club stood out more than the others on the horizon, and it was one to which money was no object and its eccentric smug boss could do anything to have his fill.
However, even Real Madrid, led by manager Jose Mourinho, had stated that they never really needed the player, but if the case turned to the worst, they would obviously step in to buy the player.
However, near to the announcements of Rooney’s extension, Manchester United changed its stance and position on the issue and became somewhat lenient. They even stated that the selling off of Rooney wasn’t imminent.
Arsenal’s manager Arsène Wenger had predicted how the tale would unfold much before anyone could have guessed the outcome. The Professor had articulated before the Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk that he did not
believe the saga as it progressed and had added that in the end, all the matters would be resolved.
His doubts were relayed when the Frenchman said, “He is a great player. I am convinced he will stay at Manchester United because it is his club. They have the power to keep him and I don't believe in the story.”
He added, “When you give a great player a rest you have a story. Rooney is Rooney. He will stay where he is.”
Now that his prediction has come true, even though he might not get the status of the 2010 World Cup celebrity, Paul the Octopus, he certainly will be hailed again as a man of impeccable judgement.
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