Wayne Rooney has urged Manchester United to orchestrate a "massive clear out" at Old Trafford in the summer barring a single senior team player.
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Rooney wants a massive squad overhaulSuggested to sell all except Bruno FernandesSays United need 15 years to get to desired levelWHAT HAPPENED?
After United ended their home campaign this season with a 3-2 victory over Newcastle, the club legend made a bold plea to the board to undergo a substantial squad overhaul this summer, retaining only one senior player and the younger academy graduates, like Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho. Rooney believes that only a ruthless approach during a summer clear out could help the Red Devils regain their competitive edge.
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However, Rooney emphasised that Bruno Fernandes should be an exception to this exodus. The 29-year-old has recently been linked with a move to Bayern Munich and has also attracted interest from Al-Nassr, where his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo currently plays.
WHAT ROONEY SAID
"You have to build the team around Bruno," Rooney asserted during a post-match analysis on . "He's quality and has got fight in him, and then I think all the other players, get rid of them."
Rooney clarified: "I think you keep the young players, and you keep Bruno. I think it has to be a massive clear out. It has to be. It's not going to be in one year, but I think it's going to be in the next couple of years… I think [Andre Onana] has had a shaky start but has got better and better over the year. For me, [Diogo] Dalot's done well, [Harry] Maguire has had an in-and-out season. To compete in this league they need better players. Don't get me wrong, these players are good players. But to compete with Man City, Liverpool, and Arsenal, they need better players."
DID YOU KNOW?
It was earlier reported that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS are keeping an "open mind" regarding player sales and will consider on a case-by-case basis. The only players reportedly not up for sale are Rasmus Hojlund, Garnacho, and Mainoo, indicating a focus on nurturing young talent as part of the rebuilding strategy.
Reflecting on the long-term rebuilding process, Rooney believes that it could take even more than a decade for United to regain the lost glory following the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson.
"Well, you look at Man City when their new owners came in it took them 15 years to win the Champions League. That's potentially what you might be looking at, you hope not," he said.